Encapsulated Micronutrient Salt Additive for Stable Colorless Fortification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fortifying salt with micronutrients like vitamin B12 are unstable and result in undesirable color, making them unsuitable for use as food additives.
Innovation Solution
Incorporate vitamin B12 into separate particles with a core and coating, matching the size and density of salt grains, using a binder and encapsulating coatings to create a multi-supplement food-additive that can be admixed with iodized salt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If micronutrients like vitamin B12 are added directly to salt using existing fortification methods, then the salt provides nutritional supplementation, but the micronutrients become unstable and produce undesirable color
Solution Approach 1:
The micronutrients (iron, vitamin B12, folic acid) are segmented into separate encapsulated particles rather than being mixed directly with salt. Each particle contains a core with the micronutrients and a coating layer that protects them from degradation and prevents color transfer to the salt, thereby maintaining stability while providing nutritional supplementation.
2Quantity of substance
If micronutrients are added directly to salt, then nutritional supplementation is achieved, but the salt develops detectable color and altered appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The coating on the encapsulated particles provides local quality by containing the color and physical properties of the micronutrients within the particle structure. This allows the micronutrients to be present in the salt mixture without their color or physical characteristics being detectable in the overall salt product, maintaining consumer acceptability.
3Productivity
If existing fortification methods are used, then micronutrients are delivered to consumers, but the micronutrients degrade and lose effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The micronutrients are pre-encapsulated in stable particle form before being mixed with salt. This preliminary encapsulation action protects the micronutrients from degradation during storage and handling, ensuring they remain stable and effective when delivered to consumers through the fortified salt.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting fortified salt is stable and undetectable, maintaining micronutrient integrity and appearance, suitable for food additives.
Implementation Method 1
An encapsulating coating is on the color-masking coating
Implementation Method 2
A color-masking coating is on the core
Data Source
AI summary
A fortified salt mixture includes sodium chloride salt grains and a multi-supplement food-additive admixed with the sodium chloride salt grains. The multi-supplement food additive includes particles, and each particle includes a core having a first supplement and a binder, a coating on the core, and a second supplement in the core and/or in the coating. A method for fortifying salt includes combining a first supplement, a second supplement, a binder and a coating to yield a multi-supplement food-additive; and admixing the multi-supplement food-additive with sodium chloride salt grains.