Why Fortrified Foods Are Not A Good Way To Get Our Vitamins

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Hi All,

The concept of fortified foods sounds like a good idea, but I have a hunch that they are mostly useful for lulling us into a false sense of security. The problem is, if foods are "enriched" with significant levels of a vitamin, (or vitamins), the manufacturers are forced by the FDA to sell their product as a supplement.

Consider milk, for example, which is advertised to be enriched with vitamin D. How much vitamin D do you think is in there? Approximately a measly 40 IU per cup. That's hardly worth mentioning, IMO, since one would have to drink something in the range of 100 cups to get a decent daily intake.

There are a few companies that do it right, though. Natural Ovens currently markets a range of bakery products fortified with vitamin D. Their Bone Builder Whole Grain Supplement, for example, contains 1000 IU of vitamin D per slice, but they have to market is as a supplement, rather than as bread, thanks to the FDA. Don't rush out to buy some, though, because Natural Ovens bakes with wheat flour. I'm not aware of any vitamin D fortified GF bread.

Tex