Question explored with the scientific record
Conversation so far
- 1 Is there any evidence that synthetic folic acid is sprayed on crops on newly picked crops to add shelf life to vegetables?
- 2 So how are some supermarkets advertising on packages claiming that fresh produce (e.g. Broccoli) contains synthetic folic acid?
Answered on this page ↓
So how are some supermarkets advertising on packages claiming that fresh produce (e.g. Broccoli) contains synthetic folic acid?
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.
Sources used 1
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Awareness and consumption of folate-fortified foods by women of childbearing age in Western Australia
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