What is fortification? · What is mandatory folic acid fortification?
Fortification is the intentional addition of vitamins and minerals to food at levels higher than those found in the original food. Voluntary fortification allows food manufacturers to choose what vitamins and minerals they want to add to food, providing they are permitted in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). For example many breakfast cereals are fortified with a range of vitamins and minerals. Mandatory fortification of food is where food manufacturers are required to add a vitamin or mineral. These are added in response to a significant public health need, for example, manufacturers are required to add vitamin D to margarine and thiamin to flour for making bread in Australia.
