Enriched foods are a grouping of manufactured food items that contain added vitamins and minerals. These vitamins and minerals added to the food were previously lost during processing. Enriched foods are different from fortified versions. Fortified foods not only replace lost vitamins and minerals, but there are extra amounts of vitamins and minerals above the original levels found in the food items. Enriched foods can help you get the recommended levels of essential nutrients.
Margarine
Spreadable fats, including margarine are often enriched with vitamin A. They are also often enriched with vitamin D. Some brands will also enrich their margarine and spreadable fat products with omega-3 fish oil.
Cereals
Cereal companies, including Kellogg's produce vitamin-enriched cereals and cereal products. As an example, Total includes a full day's worth of iron, calcium and zinc.
Breads
Varieties of bread are a popular type of food that is enriched with vitamins. Since iron and vitamin B are frequently lost during the refinement process, these are the nutrients replaced in enriched breads. An example of a company that makes enriched breads is Pepperidge Farm.
Pasta
Since pasta is also produced from flour, like bread, numerous pasta products are enriched with vitamins. Enriched pastas will also include the B vitamins and iron that had been previously lost during refinement. The packaging of the pasta will list the ingredients as "enriched wheat". An example of a pasta producer that makes enriched pastas is DeCecco.
Baby Food
Many baby formulas and baby foods are enriched with vitamins, iron and DHA. These added nutrients are added as a way to help the baby's development. One example of enriched baby food are the various products made by Enfamil.
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