Fortified foods are defined as:

• A. Added nutrients to foods in which the nutrients are not normally present
• B. Removing nutrients from foods
• C. Nutrients replaced after processing
• D. Foods with only natural nutrients

Answer: (A)

Adding nutrients to foods that don’t normally contain them defines fortified foods. This practice is used to boost nutrient intake and help prevent deficiencies, even when the nutrient isn’t a natural component of the food or is present only in very small amounts. That’s why the best description is nutrients added to foods where they aren’t normally present.

As a contrast, removing nutrients from foods describes loss during processing, not purposeful addition. Replacing nutrients after processing is called enrichment, which restores nutrients lost during processing to their original levels rather than adding new ones. Foods with only natural nutrients refer to unfortified products that haven’t had nutrients added. Common examples include iodine in salt, vitamin D in milk, and minerals or vitamins added to breakfast cereals.