Voluntary Fortification of Bread with Folic Acid Annual Report 2013
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Voluntary fortification of bread with folic acid Annual Report 2013 T.G. Watson Baking Industry Research Trust May 2014 A report to the Ministry for Primary Industries 1 Disclaimer Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this report is accurate. The Baking Industry Research Trust, and the New Zealand Association of Bakers and member companies, do not accept any responsibility or liability for any error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, however it may have occurred. 2 Summary This report fulfils the reporting requirements of the New Zealand Association of Bakers (NZAB) code of practice (COP) for voluntary folic acid fortification of bread in New Zealand. The COP requires that the Industry will commission an audit of fortified breads each year to verify the levels of folic acid in the range of breads and proportion of breads available in New Zealand that are fortified. NZAB members have advised that there were 29 varieties of folic acid fortified packaged sliced breads on the market in New Zealand in 2013. While some varieties are regional, the majority are readily available nationally. In 2013, 14.4 %, by production volume, of packaged sliced bread marketed or distributed by NZAB members or their private label partners was fortified with folic acid. This is approximately the same level as reported for 2012. While changes have been slow companies are committed to the COP through their signatures and marketing plans have been developed to ensure the targets will be met in the future. All NZAB member bread formulations claiming folic acid fortification, by manufacturing company, were audited. Where product was sold in both the North and South Islands, product from both Islands was audited. All samples were taken from the market by shoppers independent of NZAB member companies. A total of 49 bread formulations were sampled across the country. Folic Acid content was tested by AsureQuality using the Biacore method (based on AOAC method 992.05). Audit results show that the average fortification levels of all breads was 182 µg per 100 grams of bread in the most recent round of sampling. The median fortification levels (interquartile range (IQR)) for all bread analyses was 153 µg /100 g (IQR: 105, 259 µg /100 g) in the most recent round of sampling. Companies have struggled to accurately achieve targeted levels of folic acid in finished bread in their first round of auditing. The findings from the audit have been used to help refine fortification practices and improvements were observed across almost all bread lines throughout the year. Of the breads that were audited at least twice (n=19), the median concentration of bread fortification increased from 27.2 µg /100 g (IQR 17, 93 µg /100 g) in the first round of auditing to 244 µg /100 g 3 (152, 272 µg /100 g) in the final round of auditing. At the final round of auditing, only two bread lines were found to have fortification levels less than 50 µg /100 g. Results indicate that processes to ensure folic acid premix is added have improved, but further work on review of addition levels for the various folic acid premixes and processes is still in progress to ensure that all breads are reaching the targeted level of fortification (200 µg per 100 grams of bread), whilst not exceeding the maximum level of 250µg/100g permitted in the Standard. This is an area of focus for all companies going forward. Level of success will be measured in the 2014 round of audits. Marketing plans for 2014 indicate that 25 -35%, by volume, of bread produced by the end of 2014 will be fortified. By annualising (determining the resulting volume if all fortified product had been in the market for the full year) it can be predicted that the COP’s aspirational target of 50% of packaged sliced bread fortified with folic acid is achievable. 4 Contents Page Number Summary 3 Contents 5 List of Tables 6 List of Abbreviations 6 Introduction 7 List of breads containing folic acid 8 Proportion of breads fortified with folic acid 11 Audit of breads claimed to be fortified with folic acid 13 Background to audit 13 Method 13 Analysis of folic acid content 14 Results 14 Discussion 16 Next steps 17 Appendices Appendix 1 19 New Zealand Association of Bakers (NZAB) and Private Label Partner’s Code of Practice for Voluntary Folic Acid Fortification of Bread Appendix 2 23 Full results 5 List of Tables Table Number Title Page Number 1 Packaged sliced breads fortified with folic acid 6 2 Percentage of packaged sliced breads fortified with folic acid 9 3 Summary of audit results 12 List of Abbreviations New Zealand Association of Bakers (NZAB) Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Code of Practice (COP) Baking Industry Research Trust (BIRT) Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) Not Applicable (NA) Interquartile range (IQR) 6 Introduction In order to help meet the needs of the population of concern with regard to folic acid (i.e., women of child-bearing age) members of the New Zealand Association of Bakers voluntarily add folic acid to some bread products. This enables those in the population who wish to increase their folic acid levels to do so by purchasing these fortified breads. A code of practice (COP) has been developed to reinforce NZAB commitment to having folic acid fortified bread available. This report is written to meet the reporting requirements of NZAB code of practice (COP) for voluntary folic acid fortification of bread. A copy of the COP and list of the companies that have signed up to it is included in the Appendix to this report. The COP was developed in conjunction with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). It requires that an audit is carried out to verify the level of folic acid in the range of NZAB packaged sliced loaf breads fortified, and that an annual report be submitted to MPI which includes the following: • a list of all the breads containing folic acid • the proportion, by volume, reported as production volume of packaged loaf breads that contain folic acid • a list of breads that have been tested and the test method used • the results of tests, identifying the levels of folic acid found in breads • an explanation of how the goal for fortifying towards 50% of packaged breads in NZ, with folic acid, is being met. This report relates to the 2013 calendar year and planned activity for 2014 7 List of breads fortified with folic acid There are 29 varieties of NZAB folic acid fortified packaged sliced breads on the market in New Zealand as shown in Table 1. The list of fortified products, including product name, loaf weight, and regions where able to be purchased, is available to the public on the NZAB and BIRT website www.bakeinfo.co.nz. Bread type, type of outlet and shelf prices in 2013 have been added to the list for the information of readers of this report. Some bread varieties are only available on one island. However there is often a similar counter-part available on the other island e.g., Rivermill Wheatmeal in the North Island is equivalent to Golden Bake Wheatmeal in the South Island. Many of the folic acid fortified breads are used by food service customers i.e., restaurants, caterers, cafes, cafeterias, government institutions, rest homes etc. Fortified breads are available in a range of prices. Table 1 Packaged sliced breads fortified with folic acid Product Name Loaf Weight Bread Type Regions where able to be Type of Outlet (Supermarket, Dairy, 2013 On Shelf Price (g) purchased Other) Range ($ per loaf) Sunny Crust Multigrain Toast 600 Light Grain National Supermarkets 2.40 - 2.70 Sunny Crust Wholemeal Toast 600 Wheatmeal National Supermarkets 2.40 - 2.70 Pams Multigrain Sandwich 700 Grain National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 1.99 - 2.99 Pams Multigrain Toast 700 Grain National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 1.99 - 2.99 Pams Wheatmeal Sandwich 700 Wheatmeal National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 1.74 - 2.60 Pams Wheatmeal Toast 700 Wheatmeal National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 1.74 - 2.60 Burgen Pumpkin & Chia 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2.99 - 4.90 Burgen soy and Linseed Toast 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2.99 - 4.95 Burgen soy and Linseed Sandwich 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2.99 - 4.95 Burgen Mixed Grain Toast 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2.99 - 4.95 8 Burgen Mixed Grain Sandwich 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2.99 - 4.95 Burgen Mixed Grain Long slice 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2.99 - 4.95 Pams Mixed Grain Traditional 700 Grain National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 2.49 - 3.41 Pams Mixed Grain Toast 700 Grain National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 2.50 - 3.59 Pams Soy and Linseed Toast 700 Grain National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 2.50 - 3.59 Budget Multigrain Toast 700 Grain National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 1.48 - 2.10 Budget Multigrain Sandwich 700 Grain National Pak N Save, New World, 4 Square 1.48 - 2.10 Supersoft bread honey grain Toast 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2 for $5 - 1 for $4.52 Supersoft bread honey grain Sandwich 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2 for $5 - 1 for $4.52 Supersoft bread Multigrain Toast 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2 for $5 - 1 for $4.52 Goodness grains sunflower and Chia 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2 for $5 - 1 for $4.49 Goodness Grains 9 grains Toast 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2 for $5 - 1 for $4.49 Goodness Grains original Swiss Toast 700 Grain National Supermarket, Dairy, Route 2 for $5 - 1 for $4.49 Goodness