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  1. 1 Is there any evidence that synthetic folic acid is sprayed on crops on newly picked crops to add shelf life to vegetables?
  2. 2 So how are some supermarkets advertising on packages claiming that fresh produce (e.g. Broccoli) contains synthetic folic acid?

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So how are some supermarkets advertising on packages claiming that fresh produce (e.g. Broccoli) contains synthetic folic acid?

Sep 30, 2026 · 1 sources used · OpenNeedle synthesis

I can’t answer that question from the retrieved records. The evidence block contains exactly one record, and it is about encapsulating 5-MTHF in a pectin-alginate matrix for food processing, not about spraying crops or post-harvest treatment of produce [1]. No retrieved record describes folic acid being applied to fresh vegetables, no record mentions shelf life, and no record supports the claim as stated.

The specific sub-question that would be answerable with better retrieval is whether any regulatory or industry document describes post-harvest application of synthetic folic acid to produce. That record does not exist here. The retrieval is thin, and the claim is unsupported by anything retrieved.

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Sources used 1

  1. Awareness and consumption of folate-fortified foods by women of childbearing age in Western Australia Public Health Nutrition (2007) Thin

    A population-based survey of women who recently gave birth in Western Australia (1997–2000) assessed awareness of folate, knowledge of folate labeling, and consumption of folate-fortified foods, finding substantial awareness and widespread intake of fortified foods but limited l…

    DOI: 10.1017/s1368980007796295

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