What is the purpose of fortified foods?

Food fortification is defined as the practice of adding vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods during processing to increase their nutritional value. It is a proven, safe and cost-effective strategy for improving diets and for the prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies.

Which foods must be fortified?

As outlined by the FAO, the most commonly fortified foods are cereals and cereal-based products; milk and dairy products; fats and oils; accessory food items; tea and other beverages; and infant formulas.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of fortifying foods?

Advantages Of Food Fortification

• Does Not Require Behaviour Change.
• Provides Nutrition Without Any Change In Characteristics Of Food.
• Maintain Body Stores Of Nutrients.
• Cost-Effective Intervention.
• Contain Natural Or Near Natural Levels Of Micronutrients.
• Not A Substitute Of Good Nutrition.

Is fortification good for health?

Fortification doesn’t make them inherently healthy or good for you. Many younger children are also at risk of overdosing on some added vitamins, according to a report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

What do micronutrients do for the body?

Micronutrients are one of the major groups of nutrients your body needs. They include vitamins and minerals. Vitamins are necessary for energy production, immune function, blood clotting and other functions. Meanwhile, minerals play an important role in growth, bone health, fluid balance and several other processes.

Why are fortified foods bad?

It can cause birth defects, and high levels of vitamin A have been linked to hip fractures in older adults. While many women still have low folate intake, foods fortified with folic acid can cause people to get too much, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Is Rice fortified?

Rice is cultivated in many parts of the world, as it grows in diverse climates. Rice kernels can be fortified with several micronutrients, such as iron, folic acid and other B-complex vitamins, vitamin A and zinc.

Do cereals have to be fortified?

Any ready-to-eat cereals that list a whole grain as their first ingredient must also be fortified unless the cereal is 100 percent whole grain, according to the USDA. “All wheat derived foods [in the U.S.] are fortified with B vitamins, folic acid and more,” says Stoler.

What is wrong with fortified foods?

Is fortifying foods a good way to achieve nutritional goals?

Food fortification was proven an effective tool for tackling nutritional deficiencies among population; but today, a more reasonable approach is to use food fortification as a mean to support but not replace dietary improvement strategies (i.e. nutritional education campaigns) (1).

Do micronutrients give you energy?

Nutrients can be divided into two categories: macronutrients, and micronutrients. Macronutrients are those nutrients that the body needs in large amounts. These provide the body with energy (calories). Micronutrients are those nutrients that the body needs in smaller amounts.