Stabilization of Vitamin A in a Synthetic Rice Premix

Vitamin A (VA) fortification of rice for developing countries has been attempted by formulating a synthetic rice grain containing VA (called Ultrarice R ) to be used as a premix with ordinary rice. VA was stabilized with a combination of tocopherol, ascorbic acid and saturated lipids in the formulation. Washing stability of VA was 100%. Cooking stability was greater than 80% retention of VA. ΔH‡ of VA degradation ranged from 4 to 34 kcal/mole depending on Aw and formulation. Entropies ranged from 11 to −79 cal/mol‐deg. ΔH‡ was unchanged averaging 29 kcal/mol. The best t 1/2 s for VA were >1 year. Successful stabilization of VA has enabled this premix to be used in clinical and pilot field fortification studies in the Philippines.