Iron in Cereal Experiment
Discover the level of iron in your favorite breakfast cereals using one
of Iron’s physical properties, magnetism. Students can use strong
magnets to determine which breakfast cereal contains more
Iron. Experiment Time: 15 Minutes
What is Iron?
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Iron is a chemical element and metal. Its chemical symbol is Fe and its
atomic number is 26.
Even though iron only makes up less than 5 percent of the mass on Earth, it
is found in a lot of places: rocks, cereal—and even in your blood! It's also
the most frequently used metal on the planet; it makes up most of steel,
which is a mixture of iron and other ingredients.
What is Fortification?
 Fortification- is the addition of vitamins and minerals to a food product that was not originally in
the food.
 The fortification of food began in the 1920s as a way to address nutritional deficiencies. Some
examples are iodine in salt, vitamin D in milk and iron in cereal. Vitamins and minerals are
expressed as the percent of daily value on nutrition facts labels. This expresses how much of the
daily recommended amount of a particular vitamin or mineral is present in a single serving.
Many ready-to-eat cereals on the market today are fortified with a variety of vitamins and
minerals, such as iron, vitamin D, folic acid, riboflavin and niacin.
 Fortified cereals can be a part of any diet as a way to increase consumption of vitamins and
minerals the body needs. Combining a serving of cereal with vitamin D-fortified milk or a glass of
fortified orange juice further improves the nutrient content provided in one meal. Those with
gluten intolerance can also enjoy the same benefits with the gluten-free cereal options.
Why is iron fortified?
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WE NEED IRON in order to live! Fortifying foods with iron is an adequate way for
us to receive our recommended daily amounts.
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Another reason is that iron ions (iron that would more easily combine with
other molecules in the cereal) increase the spoilage rate of the food. Using iron in its
pure metal form gives the cereal a longer shelf-life. Of course, not all cereals use
elemental iron, some use iron in the form of ferrous sulfate (FeSO).
What’s the function of iron in humans?
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The most important roles of iron in the body are in oxygen transport and electron transfer in
respiration. Iron binds oxygen in the blood, allowing an adequate supply of oxygen to be carried
throughout the body from the lungs. Iron is also involved in immune reactions of the body. If the
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body does not receive an adequate supply of iron, red blood cells in the body are not as
effective at transporting oxygen.
Iron in the human body has a number of important functions including carrying oxygen to the
body in the form of hemoglobin. Iron deficiency can be quite common (especially among
women), with a number of possible symptoms including fatigue and weakness.
What kinds of foods are fortified with Iron?
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There are two forms of iron in the diet: heme and nonheme. In foods from animal sources, such
as meat, poultry and fish, about half the iron is heme iron and the rest is nonheme. Iron from
dairy foods, eggs and plant-based foods is entirely nonheme. Iron is better absorbed by the
body from heme sources. Vitamin C also improves absorption of both forms of iron when
consumed at the same meal. Fortified products, such as breads, cereals and breakfast bars, can
contribute significant amounts of nonheme iron to the diet.
What are the Health Implications?
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Not Enough?
o Inadequate dietary iron results in iron deficiency anemia, the most common nutritional
deficiency in the world. Symptoms include fatigue, reduced cognitive function,
increased risk of infection and delayed development in infants.
Too Much?
o It’s not likely that you’ll get too much iron from dietary sources. However, high doses
from supplements could cause harmful effects, ranging from gastrointestinal effects,
such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, to cardiovascular, nervous system, kidney and
liver effects. Children should never be given iron supplements unless under the
guidance of a physician or qualified health professional