We’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating: Most consumers aren’t getting enough dietary potassium, fiber, calcium and vitamin D. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 states that fortification of foods can help bridge this nutrient gap. “Dietary supplements or fortification of certain foods may be advantageous in specific situations to increase intake of a specific vitamin or mineral,” according to the report.
When fortifying foods with additional vitamins and minerals, dairy products have a leg up on the competition. Dairy products are already nutrient-rich, so it makes sense to consider adding more of the nutrients consumers need; whereas it makes less sense to add nutrients to nutrient-poor foods. That said, there is much for dairy processors to contend with when formulating products and when communicating the benefits of fortification to consumers.