Folate concentrations of fast foods measured by trienzyme extraction method

Folate concentrations in common fast foods containing beef were measured using a new trienzyme folate extraction method and compared to the values using traditional folate conjugase. A total of 56 fast foods were purchased from local restaurants after the 1998 mandate of folic acid fortification in enriched cereal grains. One serving of hamburger, sandwich, pizza (one eighth of a 30-cm pizza) and Mexican foods contained a mean of 314 (+/- 98, S.D.), 401 (+/- 115), 221 (+/- 45) and 282 (+/- 126) mug of folate, respectively. Breakfast items provided the lowest folate amount among the foods (165 +/-89 mug per serving). These values are markedly higher than those in the literature most likely due to the mandate of folic acid fortification in cereal-grain products and the use of the new folate extraction technique. We hope that the information presented here is a useful means to accurately Calculate dietary folate intake. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.