TITLE:
Investigation of Discoloration of Packaged Fortified Salt under Conditions Relevant to Product Packaging and Storage
AUTHORS:
Elisa J. T. McGee, Levente L. Diosady
KEYWORDS:
Fortification, Iodate, Iodine, Iron, Polymer
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.7 No.13,
November
4,
2016
ABSTRACT: Double fortified salt containing both potassium iodate and ferrous fumarate microcapsules
was produced at an Indian commercial facility. The packaged product became
discolored, turning yellow, to a degree that would impact consumer acceptance.
Therefore, there was a need for an investigation into the cause and possible
remedy for this discoloration. The components of the fortified salt product, storage
conditions, and processing characteristics were taken into consideration. Canadian
and Indian salt samples were prepared unfortified as well as with iodine and/or iron
microcapsules; stored at 25°C and 45°C in glass, polyethylene, or commercial polymer
film. Some samples were heat treated prior to storage. Salt samples containing
iodine that were heated before storage in packaging material turned yellow in color.
From this study, it was found that due to heat and the presence of a sacrificial antioxidant
component in the packaging film, potassium iodate was reduced to elemental
iodine (I2) turning packaged salt samples to a yellow/orange color. Hence it is
recommended that in the manufacture of foods containing potassium iodate, the
packaging material selected should be free from readily accessible antioxidants.