A five-year research project by Australia’s science agency, CSIRO, and RISE Research Institute of Sweden on fortifying bouillon cubes to reduce malnutrition around the world, has garnered attention as Bill Gates showcased the cube on CBS The Late Show in the US.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has funded the project, which launched in 2019.
According to the UN, one third of the world’s population is undernourished. Adding vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods and condiments is seen as one way to combat the issue.
The bouillon fortification project developed in response to the high rate of malnutrition in West Africa, where bouillon consumption is high. The team identified and tested innovative ways to develop a multi-fortified bouillon formulation to deliver measurable health benefits.
RISE Project Manager, Tim Nielsen, said the joint research team investigated how local climate condition impacted the product during storage. The goal was to improve the stability of nutrients and reducing potential negative effects on the taste of the bouillon cubes.
“[We] evaluated the broth during storage to ensure that the quality is maintained and that the nutrients are preserved at the desired levels. High temperature and humidity can lead to degradation of vitamins and change the colour and texture of the broth,” Nielsen said.
“We mixed 10 different broth powders with different combinations of iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B9, vitamin B12 and iodine. The powders were pressed into bouillon cubes and stored for 32 weeks at 30 and 40°C and 70 per cent relative humidity.
“To ensure product quality, we carried out chemical analyses of vitamins and minerals, sensory analyses and colour measurements.”
Nutritional deficiencies can cause a number of serious health risks, such as stunted physical and cognitive development and increased risk of infections and metabolic disorders.
The bouillon cube produced by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and CSIRO (Australia). Photo: Johanna E Andersson, RISE
