In order to interpret labels consumers need to have a clear understanding of several descriptions of foods.

Restored applies to the addition of nutrients to a processed food so that it has the same value as the original food. For example, suppose the original food contained 5.0 mg iron per pound, and lost 1.0 mg in processing; the addition of 1.0 mg iron restores it to the original value.

Fortification is the addition of one or more nutrients that may or may not have been present in the original food; for example, the addition of vitamin D to milk, vitamin A to margarine, and iodine to salt.

Enrichment is the addition of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and iron to flours and cereals according to specified standards set by the Food and Drug Administration. This constitutes a restoration of nutrients removed in the processing of grain, and, in the case of iron, fortification as well.

A dietary supplement is a product specially formulated to furnish additional nutrients to a regular diet. It includes vitamins, minerals, and/or protein in the form of foods, capsules, tablets, pills, powders, or liquids.

Engineered, formulated, or fabricated foods are products developed by manufacturers from one or more ingredients. They are termed analogs when they simulate another food; for example, textured vegetable protein made from soybeans may simulate a pork chop or sausage or other meat product. Several breakfast drinks have been developed for use in place of orange juice, and are similar in color, flavor, and nutrient content. One of the important points to be aware of in choosing a fabricated food is that it furnishes the same amount and variety of nutrients that are contained in the food it replaces.

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GENERAL HEALTH