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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Surveys Research Group » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #290958
Title: Fortification: New findings and implications

Author
item WOTEKI, CATHERINE - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item DWYER, JOHANNA - Tufts - New England Medical Center
item Moshfegh, Alanna
item BAILEY, REGAN - National Institutes Of Health (NIH)
item MURPHY, MARY - Exponent
item BRITTEN, PATRICIA - Center For Nutrition Policy & Promotion (CNPP)
item CARRIQUIRY, ALICIA - Iowa State University
item MILLER, DENNIS - Cornell University
item EDGE, MARIANNE SMITH - International Food Information Council (IFIC)

Submitted to: Nutrition Reviews
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2014
Publication Date: 2/7/2014
Citation: Dwyer, J.T., Woteki, C., Bailey, R., Britten, P., Carriquiry, A., Gaine, P.C., Miller, D., Moshfegh, A., Murphy, M.M., and Smith Edge, M. 2014. Fortification: New findings and implications. Nutrition Reviews. 72:127-141.

Interpretive Summary: The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI North America), a public, non-profit scientific foundation that advances the understanding and application of science related to the nutritional quality and safety of the food supply, sponsored a workshop on June 21, 2012, in Washington, D.C., to evaluate the value of fortification of the food supply, the success of current fortification efforts, and the future role of fortification in preventing or reversing nutrient inadequacies. The workshop affirmed that fortification of the food supply with vitamins and minerals is a successful public health strategy to enhance nutrient intakes of the population at large without increasing caloric intakes. Fortification has clearly improved the nutrition status of the American population for B vitamins, iodine, vitamin D, and iron. Evidence from national dietary data and research studies was presented showing that many Americans would not achieve micronutrient intake levels without fortification and/or enrichment of the U.S. food supply. This paper summarizes research findings on the impact of fortification on nutrient intake of the population and discusses the future role that fortification could play in enhancing nutrient adequacies as well as the need to examine both positive and negative implications of furthering fortification.

Technical Abstract: Fortification of the food supply with vitamins and minerals is a public health strategy to enhance nutrient intakes of the population at large without increasing caloric intakes. Many Americans would not achieve recommended micronutrient intake levels without fortification and/or enrichment of the U.S. food supply for B vitamins, iodine, vitamin D, and iron. Any changes in food fortification policy must be considered within the context of the impact it will have on all segments of the population and within the context of food technology applications and its limitations. Furthermore, the use of dietary supplements, common in the U.S., also contributes nutrients to the diets of those who use them. To address these and other issues, the Fortification Committee of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI North America) sponsored and held a workshop on June 21, 2012, in Washington, D.C. This workshop brought together representatives from government, industry, and academic sectors to discuss and evaluate the value of fortification, the success of current fortification efforts, and the fu ture role of fortification in preventing or reversing nutrient inadequacies. This paper summarizes research findings on the impact of fortification on nutrient intake of the population and discusses the future role that fortification could play in enhancing nutrient adequancies as well as the need to examine both positive and negative implications of furthering fortification.