Ultra Rice Technology: Acceptable Micronutrient Losses and Limited Microbial Growth Enable Shelf Life Extension.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The objective of this research was to determine if Ultra Rice (UR) fortified grains are shelf stable and suitable for consumption after 24 months (m) of storage and to document micronutrient losses to determine overages that must be included in the initial formulation. A longer shelf life will prevent the unnecessary disposal of fortified grains at 12m, enable fortified rice grains to be blended prior to transport, and increase the likelihood that it will reach vulnerable populations. Methods: UR premix kernels were sampled from a World Vision warehouse in Burundi every 6m over 24 m. The growth of microorganisms was tested in a certified laboratory and compared with the World Food Programme's (WFP) food safety standards for fortified rice 10,000 /gram for Aerobic colony count, 50 /gram for Bacillus cereus, 0/gram for E. coli, 10 /gram for Coliforms, 100 /gram for Yeasts and moulds, and negative results for Salmonella. Micronutrient losses were calculated between 0 and 24 m, accounting for moisture. Results: Microorganism growth remained at or below the WFP acceptable limits after 24 m of storage. The micronutrient data indicated losses of 0.5% folic acid, 15.0% thiamine, 18.5% iron, and 18.1% zinc after 24 m of storage. Conclusions: The lack of bacterial growth within UR fortified rice suggests it can be safely consumed for at least 24 m following production and the shelf life can be extended to 24 m under similar storage conditions. Micronutrient losses were small and these amounts will be used to calculate overages with greater precision when formulating future micronutrient premix. *Funded by USDA/NIFA.