Do “iron fortified” cereals really contain iron filings?
Dear Cecil: I saw a chemist’s demonstration where a bowl of Total cereal was soaked in hot water (to dissolve the cereal). Then a white magnet was placed in the solution. Upon removal, the magnet was covered with tiny specks of metal, apparently iron. A white magnet placed into a packet of “iron fortified” instant oatmeal and shaken around will also come out covered with tiny iron filings. Are these filings actually nutritious, or is this some terrible joke so these products can claim to be “iron fortified”? — William B.
Dear Cecil: I saw a chemist’s demonstration where a bowl of Total cereal was soaked in hot water (to dissolve the cereal). Then a white magnet was placed in the solution. Upon removal, the magnet was covered with tiny specks of metal, apparently iron. A white magnet placed into a packet of “iron fortified” instant oatmeal and shaken around will also come out covered with tiny iron filings. Are these filings actually nutritious, or is this some terrible joke so these products can claim to be “iron fortified”? — William B. Stockton, Washington, DC Cecil replies: Let’s think about this, William. The stuff says “iron fortified.” Experiments show it IS iron fortified. You figure this is some kind of deceitful practice? Like maybe it should say, “iron fortified and WE MEAN IT”? Get with the program. Different iron compounds are used in different products and the particles may be different sizes, all of which affects how “biologically available” the stuff is. But yes, when a product says “iro
