HEALTH NEWS
Multi nutrient rice kernels can fill gaps in rice fortification By: Abbie L. Padrones
Rice fortification in the Philippines began in the early 1940’s. It was conceptualized by Dr. R.R. Williams, who incidentally also discovered vitamin B1 or thiamine. Fortifying rice by adding thiamin, niacin, and iron was implemented in the country to alleviate the problem of beriberi or thiamine deficiency. For instance, after a larger pilot-scale test of fortified rice in Bataan, mortality from beriberi was significantly reduced in the covered areas.
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