Both terms mean to add vitamins and/or minerals

to a food.

Enriched and Fortified

EnrichedWhen foods are processed, they often lose some of the important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals in the process. If the food is labeled “enriched” then the vitamins and/or minerals which were lost have simply been added back to restore it to it’s original nutritional value.

Misconception about “enriched”

Many consumers think that “enriched” means that the food has extra nutrients added to it which will make it more nutritious. That is not true. It has simply been restored to it’s original state.

“Enriched” is most often seen in relation to flour. The

refining process necessary to produce white flour is so

rigorous that it removes a large amount of nutrients.

Most companies who market white flour now “enrich” it by

adding back the nutrients which were lost during this

process.

When foods are labeled “fortified” with something, that means that an extra amount has been added beyond the amount that

was present before it was processed.

Fortified

Misuse of “Fortified”Companies which make foods high in sugar, such as breakfast cereals will label the package “fortified with vitamins and minerals”. Since the product is high in sugar, they are trying to make it look as if it is healthy. Adding some vitamins and minerals does not change the fact that it is high in sugar.

Examples of fortified foods:Milk with Vitamin DSalt with IodineFruit juice with CalciumWater or toothpaste with fluoride

Flour with Folic AcidBread with Niacin