Which term describes foods that have had nutrients added to improve their nutritional value.

• A. Amino acid
• B. Fortified foods
• C. Calories (energy)
• D. Organic food

Answer: (B)

Fortification is the deliberate addition of nutrients to foods to boost their nutritional value and help prevent nutrient deficiencies in the population. By adding vitamins and minerals that weren’t originally present in enough amounts, these foods aim to improve health outcomes. Common examples include cereals enriched with iron and folic acid, milk with added vitamin D, and iodized salt. This concept goes beyond simply the nutrients a food naturally contains; it’s about choosing to enhance a product’s nutrient profile through processing or formulation. It differs from amino acids, which are specific nutrients, not the overall practice of enriching a food. It also isn’t about calories (energy content) or organic farming methods, which relate to production practices rather than nutrient enrichment.