Fortified and Functional Foods (Fortification and Enrichment) Flashcards
Define the term ‘fortification’ and give examples of some commonly fortified foods.
Fortification is the addition of nutrients (usually vitamins and minerals) to a food, irrespective of whether it is naturally present or not.
examples:
- margarine fortified with Vitamins A & D
- breakfast cereals fortified with Iron
- flour fortified with folate
Define the term ‘enrichment’ and give examples of some enriched foods.
enrichment is the restoration of foods with nutrients lost during processing.
examples:
- products made with white flour e.g., bread have B vitamins added back in.
Define the term ‘substitution’ and give and example of a nutrient substitution/
Nutrients added to a product to provide a substitute product with similar nutritional value to original product.
example:
- calcium added to soya milk to match nutrient value of cows milk.
Define the term ‘supplementation’.
Extra nutrients usually given in liquid or pill form, given in high doses.
What are the key reasons why we fortify foods?
- increase nutritional value of food
- improve the nutrient status of the population without them changing their diet
- to add nutrients back into food that are lost during processing
- marketing advantage
- food processing advantage e.g., addition of Vit C prolongs shelf life
Which foods are fortified by law and which are voluntary?
required by law:
- fortification of white flour with folate, B vitamins (thiamin and niacin) & calcium
voluntary:
- fortification of breakfast cereals with iron, calcium & vit D
- fortification of margarine with vit A & D ( used to mandatory)
What percentage of girls and boys diet does iron fortification in breakfast cereals contribute?
girls: 23%
boys: 29%
What percentage of girls and boys diet does Vit D fortification in breakfast cereals contribute?
girls: 20%
boys: 24%
What are some limitations of fortified foods?
- intakes of nutrients from unfortified foods
- masking of other nutrient deficiencies e.g., folate can mask b12 deficiency
- high intakes of some nutrients can inhibit absorption of others
- risk of excessive nutrient intake
- bioavailability of the added nutrients
What are the main minerals that are used in fortification?
iron zinc calcium iodine magnesium selenium copper potassium
What are the main vitamins that are used in fortification?
- vitamins A, C, D, E, K
- B vitamins (thiamin, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, pyroxidine.
What is the EU fortification policy regarding unprocessed foods and alcoholic beverages?
- unprocessed foods cannot be fortified e.g., fresh meat, fish, fruit, veg
- vit & min cannot be added to beverages that contain more than 1.2% alcohol
The addition of which nutrients to white flour is mandatory in the UK?
niacin thiamin iron calcium folate
Why is the fortification of brown flour not mandatory?
what is the extraction rate of wholegrain flour vs. white flour?
the husk of the bran is not removed during the milling process, therefore the nutrients remain within the processed flour.
wholegrain flour has 100% extraction rate
white flour has around 70% extraction rate
Why is the fortification of white flour with folic acid mandatory?
- prevents neural tube defects
- approx 50% pregnancies are unplanned, this will help reduce folate deficiency in early pregnancy
- effective way to increase folate levels of those at risk of deficiency e.g., young women from low economical status
What is the recommended vitamin D supplementation?
10 micrograms every day from October to April