Question

Explain why it is an acceptable process for manufacturers to nutritionally enrich foods with iron filings.

Answer 1

iron filings are used in food, these are known as “food grade iron filings”. What does this mean? Basically, they are powdered iron filings. These powdered iron filings are also known as “reduced iron”. This is iron in its metallic, or elemental, state and that doesn’t sound too appetising to me. Most of us know that iron is an important mineral for our body.Iron is essential for regulating cell differentiation ,cell growth, transporting oxygen around the body and immunity. iron filings stop from rusting in our food When iron is exposed to oxygen, it rusts. To keep metallic iron from rusting in domestic & industrial applications, it is either coated (eg. with zinc, grease) or mixed with another element (eg. carbon). Food grade filings are powdered, which would leave more of their surface available to oxidisation. absorption of different forms of iron, found that the absorption of reduced iron could be encouraged to an acceptable rate, and reached the conclusion that supplementation with this relatively inexpensive substitute is the most cost effective way to supply populations with the iron they need.so  it is an acceptable process for manufacturers to nutritionally enrich foods.