Enriched food

Enriched food refers to food products that have had nutrients added to them that were lost during the initial processing or cooking. This process is often used to improve the nutritional quality of the food and to prevent deficiencies in the population.

History

The concept of enriched food has been around for many years. The first recorded instance of food enrichment was in the early 20th century when vitamin D was added to milk to prevent rickets, a disease caused by vitamin D deficiency. Since then, the practice has expanded to include a wide range of foods and nutrients.

Process

The process of enriching food involves adding back nutrients that were lost during processing. This can be done in several ways, including adding a concentrated form of the nutrient, or using a form of the nutrient that is more easily absorbed by the body. The specific process used depends on the type of food and the nutrient being added.

Types of Enriched Foods

There are many types of enriched foods available today. Some of the most common include:

• Enriched flour: This is flour that has had certain nutrients added back in after the refining process. These nutrients often include iron, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin.

• Enriched rice: Similar to enriched flour, enriched rice has had certain nutrients added back in after processing. These often include iron, thiamin, and niacin.

• Enriched milk: This is milk that has had vitamin D added to it. Some types of enriched milk may also have added calcium.

Benefits and Criticisms

The main benefit of enriched foods is that they can help to prevent nutrient deficiencies in the population. This is particularly important in areas where certain nutrient deficiencies are common.

However, there are also criticisms of enriched foods. Some argue that it is better to get nutrients from whole foods rather than relying on enriched products. Others point out that the process of enrichment can sometimes lead to an overconsumption of certain nutrients, which can be harmful.

See Also

• Fortified food
• Food fortification
• Nutrition
• Dietary supplement