Japanese company Pharma Foods International (PFI) offers a specially formulated pre-mix feed for production of folate enriched eggs, which help prevent some major birth defects.
Eggs are an indispensable part of human nutrition thanks to its protein rich content. Especially, folate enriched eggs are rich in folic acid, which is an essential nutrient for children and mothers, helping prevent several birth defects. Among these birth defects are spina bifida (a defect of the spine) and anencephaly (a defect of brain), also known as neural tube defects (NTDs). It can also help reduce risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and ADHD in children.
With extensive research studies, Japan-based human health supplements company Pharma Foods International (PFI) developed Pharma Bio Mix 4, a specially formulated pre-mix feed for hen to provide folate enriched eggs, a sustainable source of bio active folate. Folate in the eggs is bio-active and hence it is assimilated easily by the human body.
“It is a novel product to improve both, human nutrition and the income of poultry farmers. The pre-mix is added into the feedstuff and feed to laying hens and after 3 weeks, folate in egg increases to more than 80 μg per 100 g-edible part of egg,” says Dr. Tukaram Pandharipande, Senior Researcher and Global Business Development at PFI.
“Folate enriched eggs are being sold at double the price of normal eggs in many countries. In countries having high malnutrition, folate enriched eggs can be introduced in various nutrition or food fortification programs,” adds Dr. Pandharipande.
For folic acid to help prevent birth defects, a woman needs to start taking it at least one month before she becomes pregnant and while she is pregnant. However, every woman needs folic acid every day, whether she’s planning to get pregnant or not, for the healthy new cells the body makes daily. Our bodies use it to make new cells. Folate enriched egg is an excellent way for intake of natural, bio-active folate.
Pharma Bio Mix 4 was first introduced in 2006 in Japan. Then it was made available in other countries, with the most recent introduction in the UAE.
Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan; PFI has branches in South Korea (PFK), Egypt (PFE), India (Dr. Tukaram) and business all over the world.
