Bioaccessibility of minerals from cereal-based composite meals and ready-to-eat foods.

Mineral content and bioaccesibility of 4 home-made composite meals and 6 commercial ready· to-eat (RTE) foods
were assessed. Bioaccessibility of Fe from composite meals based on 4 staple cereals ranged from 1.5% (finger millet
meal) to 4.7% (wheat meal), while that of Zn, from 8.5,* (rice meal) to 0.31% (sorghum meal) and of Ca, from 5.1%
(wheat meal) to 9.8% (rice meal). Rice and finger millet meals provided more bioaccessible Zn and Ca. while wheat
and sorghum meals had more bioaccessible Fe. Commercial RTE foods provided more bioaccessible Zn and Ca than
Ihe corresponding whole meal, Thus, intake of minerals is not compromised by consuming the traditional RTE foods
instead of regular home-cooked meals.