Tag: Grain enrichment

Over 70 years ago, public health campaigns in the United States led to the mandatory enrichment of certain grain products, including cornmeal. The purpose of enriched cornmeal is to restore vital nutrients lost during processing, such as B vitamins and iron, to combat widespread deficiencies like pellagra and anemia.

Starting around 1940, the United States began fortifying cereal-grain products in a proactive response to widespread nutritional deficiencies. This was a pivotal moment in public health, significantly changing the nutritional landscape for millions as authorities sought to address when did the U.S. start enriching grains as a solution to issues like pellagra and beriberi.

Neural tube defects dropped by over 25% in the U.S. in the years following mandatory fortification, sparking interest in when they started fortifying grains with folic acid. The process began in the late 1990s as a critical public health initiative to reduce the risk of severe birth defects.

According to public health reports, the mandatory enrichment of refined grains has successfully eradicated certain nutrient deficiency diseases, yet the health debate around enriched wheat continues. The question remains: is enriched wheat good or bad for you?