Fortified and Enriched Foods

 

Question: Fortified and Enriched Foods

 

What are the differences between enriched and fortified foods?

 

Answer: Enriched foods have nutrients added that were originally lost during processing. Fortified foods have nutrients added that are beyond what the foods originally contained.

Bread is enriched with B vitamins lost in the processing of white flour. So is pasta, tortillas, and any other products made with enriched white flour.

Fortified foods are more common and include calcium fortified orange juice, iodine fortified salt and vitamin D fortified milk. Cereals and fruit juices are often fortified with vitamins and minerals, but unfortunately, they are often loaded with sugar as well.

By Shereen Jegtvig