Voluntary food fortification with folic acid in Spain: Predicted contribution to children’s dietary intakes as assessed with new food folate composition data

The Spanish market offers a significant number of folic acid (FA) voluntarily fortified foods. We analysed FA and (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid ((6S)-5-CH3-H4PteGlu) content in ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) (n = 68) and cow’s milk (n = 25) by a previously validated affinity chromatography–HPLC method. Contribution to potential FA intakes for children aged 2–13 years, was assessed using food consumption data from a representative nationwide study, folate Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDI), and Upper Levels (UL). Results showed that at all food fortification levels obtained, fortified products provided more than tenfold FA than (6S)-5-CH3-H4PteGlu. For RTEC, the high fortification level provided 6–21%, per serving, of RDI and ⩽32% of ULs at 90th percentile of RTEC consumption (P90). Milk products fortified at the higher level reached on average 54–136% of RDI per serving and only exceeded UL at P90 of milk consumption in children aged 2–5 years.

► Representative fortified foods in Spain are breakfast cereals (RTEC) and milk.
► Products have been analysed by HPLC for folic acid (FA) and (6S)-5-CH3-H4PteGlu3.
► High fortification RTEC and milk, supply 6–21% and 54–136% of RDIs for children.
► Children at 90P consumption for milk could exceed FA Upper Intake Limits (16–25%).