Plant-Based Solution for Food Fortification
摘要
With increasing consumer concern regarding the health effects of animal-based foods, ethical and environmental issues, a rise in the demand for plant-based food has been observed over the past few years. Plant-based foods are comparatively low in micronutrients as compared to animal-based foods, which has increased the risk of micronutrient deficiencies in a large part of the population. This shift in the food consumption trends, and to combat the problem of hidden hunger, researchers have come up with a new strategy—plant-based food to food fortification. This comprises of incorporation of plant-based fortifiers to food, resulting in plant-based fortified foods. This strategy would not only fortify the food but also diversify the diet. Plant-based food to food fortification would help in accomplishing the two strategies—dietary diversity and fortification out of the four strategies—fortification, dietary diversity, supplementation and nutrition education recommended by the World Health Organisation/Food Agriculture Organisation (2006) guidelines to overcome hidden hunger. This chapter will provide insights into the different plant-based fortifiers that have the potential to be used as fortifiers in food fortification.