Do "iron fortified" cereals (Total) really contain iron filings, and are they the same as nutritional iron? ?

Question

I saw a chemist's demonstration where a bowl of Total cereal was soaked in hot water (to dissolve the cereal). Then a magnet was placed in the solution. Upon removal, the magnet was covered with tiny specks of metal, apparently iron.

Is this iron the same/ as good as the type found in meats/ foods (ferrous fumarate, etc..), and does it give the same benefits? Is it dangerous to consume? Should I just use supplements to get my daily iron (btw i'm a girl/anemic), and what are other good sources of iron (preferably not meat)?

Answer 1

Its nutritional iron. The item you saw was for other types of cereal so people would stop buying Total.