Effect ofwashing of coated calcium fortified rice premix
in distilled water (pH 6.9) on retention of calcium content is presented
in Fig. 2. Calcium content in different biopolymer coated
calcium fortified rice premix samples after single and double
washing was varied between 2040.50 ± 8.27 to 2451.58 ± 8.41 mg
and 1963.06 ± 5.31 to 2429.57 ± 3.56 mg per 100g, respectively.
Calcium retention on distilled water washing was found dependent
on type of biopolymer, their concentration in coating solution and
also on number of washing. Calcium retention in different washed
biopolymer coated calcium fortified rice premix samples after single
and double washing ranged 70.65e92.54% and 64.25e89.39%,
respectively. While that of in uncoated calcium fortified rice premix,
calcium retention after single and doublewashingwas to the tune of
47.38% and 35.82%, respectively only. This showed that biopolymer
coating is quite affective in reducing the leaching losses of calcium in
washing water. Mean comparison by LSD results indicated the statistically
similar calcium retention in rice premix coated with MC
using 2%, combination of HPMC and MC at 1.5% and zein using 7% in
coating solution. Calcium retention after doublewashingwas found
maximum in calcium fortified rice premix coated with zein using 9%
in coating solution followed by the combination of HPMC and MC at
2% concentration. Peil et al. (1982) also observed the maximum
retention of micronutrients (vitamin and minerals) using combination
of HPMC and MC (3:1) for rice premix coating and reported
100% iron retention in rice, which was cooked in excess water and
water was drained after cooking.