Some foods naturally have certain micronutrients that are necessary for many important body functions. These nutrients cannot be manufactured by the body and can only be obtained through diet. During food processing, it is easy to lose certain nutrients due to storage or cooking, and food that puts these nutrients back in is called "enriched". It is worth noting that fortified foods are obtained by adding nutrients that do not naturally occur in foods. Fortified foods can help people reach their daily nutritional needs to stay healthy and reduce the effects of deficiencies in nutrients such as minerals and vitamins.
Health Benefits of Fortified Foods
- Fortified foods can prevent nutrition-related diseases and help reduce the rates of illness caused by nutritional deficiencies.
- The basis of fortified food for nutritional improvement is food, which is the most basic source of nutrition. And people can easily take in nutrients through their daily diet.
- Fortified foods are cost effective. Although some foods naturally contain certain essential nutrients, they are expensive. Some fortified foods have similar nutritional value and are inexpensive, making them suitable for supplementation for people who are not wealthy.
- Fortified food does not require the eater to understand too much nutritional knowledge, nor does it need to change eating habits.
Classification of Fortified Foods
Fortified foods are divided into the following categories according to their fortification purposes.
- Fortified foods for the public.
Various foods commonly consumed by the general public are fortified to create fortified cereals, condiments, and milk products that are safe for all people to consume.
- Fortified foods for specific groups.
Foods that are specifically fortified to meet the needs of specific groups, such as pregnant women.
- Fortified food for families.
Currently, it mainly refers to fortified infant food, also known as "complementary food supplements", designed to improve the nutritional status of infants and young children.
- Market-driven fortified foods.
Food manufacturers are driven by the market to produce and sell various types of fortified foods that comply with policies and regulations. These include fortified cookies, fortified drinks, AD milk, etc.
Common Fortified Foods
Common fortified foods include fortified flour, fortified rice, fortified milk, iodized salt, iron-fortified soy sauce, fortified edible oil, and fortified formulas, all of which can effectively supplement the micronutrients necessary for the human body. The first three fortified foods are detailed as follows.
Fortified flour
As a staple food, flour plays an important role in the diet. It is made by adding additional micronutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and folic acid in excess to improve its nutritive value. Fortified flour can significantly improve the symptoms of zinc deficiency and nutritional anemia in the crowd.
Fortified milk
Milk contains a lot of calcium, protein and fat, and has a moderate amount of carbohydrates, which is an effective source of nutritional supplements. Fortified milk is typically AD milk that is fortified with vitamins A and D to enhance calcium absorption, which is beneficial to bone health. Fortified milk is suitable for young children to improve their nutritional status, but it should be taken outside of the normal diet in a moderate amount.
Fortified rice
Over half of the world's population eat rice as their main food source, and rice provides more than 20% of their caloric needs. Fortified rice can balance people's diet and improve their nutritional status through three meals a day. This is currently one of the most ideal ways to fortify staple foods in the world, providing a unique opportunity to solve the "hidden hunger" problem in many developing countries.
Alfa Chemistry offers a wide range of high-quality nutritional ingredients. Some additional micronutrients can be added to foods to obtain fortified foods which can effectively improve nutritional status. If you are in need of nutrients or related services, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our products and services are for research use only and cannot be used for any clinical purposes.
