Y. researchers find process to fortify corn tortillas

PROVO — Researchers at Brigham Young University have found a commercial process to fortify corn tortillas.

BYU food scientist Michael Dunn says his research team developed a way to add iron and zinc — often lacking in Mexican diets — to the tortillas.

The researchers say the method was designed to be affordable to small mills that produce most of Mexico's tortillas.

They focused on affordable equipment and an end product that preserved the tortillas' color texture and flavor. Dunn says researchers worked with mill owners in making the improvements.

"It was a group effort," Dunn said. "We couldn't have done it without the help of mill owners in Mexico who were very excited and wanted to do something for their countrymen and customers."

Dunn worked for 10 years in product development for the food industry before coming to BYU. He said the tortilla project was particularly satisfying.

"These fortified tortillas are much more worthwhile for Mexicans than a pint of Haagen-Dazs is to your average American consumer," he said.

The newly fortified tortillas are already reaching a small number of customers in Mexico City and Guadalajara with the help of a nonprofit organization called SUSTAIN, which focuses on using technology to improve nutrition in developing countries.

The group's director, Elizabeth Turner, praised Dunn for coming up with solutions "that are practical and feasible for the millers."

"We faced a number of challenges that needed some research to find a good solution," she said in a statement.

Dunn said that in some of Mexico's poorer areas, up to a half of residents' caloric intake comes from tortillas because they're inexpensive and filling. Some families make three trips to their local tortilla mill each day.

Tests on the newer tortillas developed by Dunn's team showed they had much higher levels of vitamins and minerals.

"One of the reasons I went into food science was to try to benefit humanity," Dunn said. "Going in week after week to those little mills in Mexico and seeing those children coming into the shop to get tortillas for their families, I realized I'm making a difference in their lives."

Dunn is hoping additional funding will help the tortillas reach millions of people.