Food labels tell all in the quest for calcium-enriched food sources other than milk products. Foods and beverages made from soy, fruit, whole grains or nuts may or may not contain added calcium, but the package must list the product's calcium content by FDA requirement. The amount of calcium will display as a percentage of the total daily value, or DV, recommended for ages 4 and up. The FDA sets this average intake at 1,000mg, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Individuals may need more or less, depending upon age or pregnancy stipulations.
Cereals and Breads
Cereal products that claim calcium-enriched status vary widely in their levels of added calcium. These whole-grain food sources may include calcium phosphate or calcium carbonate ingredients, which are chemical compounds formed with calcium minerals. Consumers can evaluate calcium claims by the DV percentage posted in the nutrition facts. For instance, General Mills Total cereals contain 1,000mg, or 100 percent DV of calcium, in suggested servings, according to the USDA Nutrient Database. B&G Foods Cream of Wheat contains 25 percent DV and Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars contain20 percent DV in calcium content per serving. Bread products with calcium claims have similar ranges of mineral values per two slices.
Orange Juice
MedlinePlus reports that calcium-enriched orange juices provide mineral supplementation for people who avoid dairy products or need dietary calcium boosts. Due to its sugar content, orange juice should be limited to 6 oz. or 8 oz. servings. Typical added-calcium ingredients include the chemical compounds calcium phosphate and calcium lactate. Prepared orange juices may contain from 200mg to 260mg of calcium per suggested serving, or 20 percent DV and up, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.
Tofu
Tofu made from soy milk gets its added calcium from the production process, in which calcium sulfate or calcium chloride acts as a coagulant. Some brands of tofu use other minerals in this step, so consumers should check food source labels for ingredients. Calcium content may vary between soft and firm tofu, MedlinePlus reports. In general, a 1/2 cup serving provides as much as 20 percent DV of calcium.
Rice, Soy and Almond Beverages
Calcium-enriched rice drink, soy milk and almond-based beverages represent significant nondairy calcium food sources. Consumers may find that tricalcium phosphate ingredients enhance the calcium contents by as much as 500mg per 1-cup serving, MedlinePlus states. These drinks provide up to 50 percent of all calcium needs for the day.
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