Sustainable Process for Tortilla Production Using Ohmic Heating with Minimal Impact on the Nutritional Value, Protein, and Calcium Performance

Indirect Fortification of Traditional Nixtamalized Tortillas with Nixtamalized Corn Flours

BACKGROUND

This work focused on the study of the indirect fortification of Mexican tortillas made from nixtamalized masa (NM) with nixtamalized commercial corn flour (NCC-F) fortified with Zn, Fe, vitamins and folic acid.

METHODS

The chemical proximate values (CPV), ash content, mineral composition by inductively coupled plasma, in vitro protein digestibility (PD), protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS), the total starch content, the resistant starch (RS) content in nixtamalized corn tortillas (NC-T) and nixtamalized commercial corn flour tortillas (NCCF-T) and the contribution of tortillas prepared with a mixture of NM and NCC-F (75:25 and 50:50, NM:NCC-F) to the recommended dietary intake (RDI) of minerals and vitamins were determined.

RESULTS

No significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in CPV and RS content between NCCF-T and NC-T. Ca content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in NC-T than in NCCF-T, while Fe, K, Zn, folic acid contents, PD and PDCAAS content was higher in NCCF-T compared to NC-T (p < 0.05). The tortillas made with a mixture of NM and NCC-F (50:50) provide 43.07% of the RDI of Ca for Mexican children and adults, while ~45% and >100% of the RDI of Mg for adults and children, respectively, are provided by these tortillas. Similarly, tortillas from the NM:NCC-F mixture (50:50) provide average values of 45, 71 and ~91% of the RDI of Fe, Zn and folic acid, respectively, for all age groups of the Mexican population.

CONCLUSIONS

NCCF-T contribute significantly to the recommended daily intake (RDI) of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, magnesium and folic acid, while tortillas made from the traditional nixtamalized corn of the Mexican diet have a higher calcium content. Tortillas made from a mixture of NCC-F and traditional NM may be an effective way to address micronutrient deficiencies in the Mexican population.

Embracing Tradition: The Vital Role of Traditional Foods in Achieving Nutrition Security

In a press release from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2019, it was reported that, currently, a mere 12 plants and 5 animal species account for approximately 75% of global food production [...].