Palm Oil Natural Source Vitamin A
Palm oil is naturally rich in beta-carotene compound. This compound is a provitamin A in the body is converted into vitamin A.
But in production, beta-carotene content is removed through a bleaching process that makes it look transparent so it is more accepted by society. While still contains beta carotene, red palm oil, so not many want to eat because it was weird. Palm Oil Natural Source Vitamin A
“We are developing t
echnologies that make palm oil can clear without losing the content of beta carotene. But for now the technology is still expensive, more expensive than fortification,” said nutrition expert from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Dr. Ir Drajat Martianto when found in the dialogue of Cooking Oil Fortification Ministry of Education in Building.
Fortification of vitamin A into the cooking oil is designed so as not to burden the producers and especially consumers that most of them came from the middle to lower. The price of 1 kg of vitamin A content of 1 million IU (international units) is only about U.S. $ 70, so that only adds to production costs Rp 32/kg.
Award
The health ministry will give the award to the 2 vegetable oil company in Indonesia. Both health care assessed by the addition of vitamin A fortification or voluntarily in the fried oil products.
The news was delivered by the chairman of Indonesian Fortification Coalition (KFI), Prof. Soekirman which is also a lecturer at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture. Both companies are referred to Prof. Soekirman are PT Wilmar Bio Indonesia and PT Musim Mas is already doing fortification although there are no regulations that require it.
“Only 2 companies that make fortification, tomorrow they will receive an award from the Ministry of Health. We also strive for at least the year 2014 all the cooking oil already contains vitamins A,” said Prof. Soekirman. Palm Oil Natural Source Vitamin A
For now, the fortification of vitamin A in cooking oil does not become a liability. Its still voluntary, so generally done on the products branded cooking oils that are relatively more expensive.
Targeted fortification is actually the bulk of oil consumed by many levels of society, so they can reach the poor ones. According to Prof. Soekirman, the number of poor families who can be reached through this program reached 35 million families.
We confirmed the award on 2 oil company, Director of Community Nutrition Ministry of Health, Dr Minarto, MPS said it was as an appreciation for the initiative to make fortification of vitamin A.
“No awards, but the mere form of a thank you for already doing voluntary fortification,” said Dr Minarto who also attended the dialogue.
Mandatory fortification ever conducted in Indonesia is on the salt and flour. Manufacturers must add iodine salt, while the wheat must contain iron, zinc, folate, vitamin B1 and vitamin B2.
In addition to cooking oil that will be required for fortification of vitamin A, rice will also be required for the fortification of folate and iron.
Palm Oil Natural Source Vitamin A
Category:Anti Aging, Nutrition and Medicine
Tagged with: Life health
