Iron Fortification Initiated by Codex Alimentarius in 1963

There are two forms of dietary iron: heme iron, readily absorbed from animal sources, and non‑heme iron, found in plants, cast‑iron cookware, and synthetic supplements. Unlike heme iron, non‑heme iron is less bioavailable and more prone to causing unregulated uptake when added en masse to foods.

Since 1963, the Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) has issued “science‑based” standards—like CODEX STAN 146‑1985 and CAC/GL 09‑1987—to harmonize iron fortification worldwide. Yet these guidelines have enabled modern staples (infant formulas, cereals, juices) to deliver 20–70 mg of non‑heme iron per day, far above what the average infant needs.

During the first year, an infant’s blood volume nearly triples, requiring only 0.4–0.6 mg of iron daily, of which about half comes from mother’s milk (0.3–0.5 mg/L). Exclusively breast‑fed babies often remain iron‑sufficient until nine months—meaning no extra iron is necessary. But today’s formula‑fed infants routinely absorb up to 100× the natural requirement, quietly loading their tissues with non‑heme iron.

This chronic, low‑level overload fuels oxidative stress and impairs immunity long before anemia or organ damage appears. To restore balance, we must prioritize heme iron sources and rethink one‑size‑fits‑all fortification—favoring targeted monitoring and diet strategies that rely on the form of iron our bodies were designed to use.