fortification
for-tih-fih-KAY-shuhn
/ˌfɔːrtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
The practice of deliberately increasing the content of an essential micronutrient in a food.
In nutrition, this is a public health strategy, unlike 'enrichment' which replaces lost nutrients.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'fortis', meaning strong. Just as a general would fortify a castle with walls, food scientists fortify bread or milk with vitamins to make the population 'stronger' against disease.
Word relationships
- enrichment: Specifically refers to adding back nutrients that were lost during processing.
- depletion: The reduction in the number or quantity of something.
Commonly confused with
- adulteration: Adulteration is adding inferior or harmful substances to food; fortification is adding beneficial ones.
Word family
- fortify (verb): To strengthen or provide with defensive works.
Collocations
- mandatory fortification
- biofortification
- food fortification
Example sentences
- "Food fortification is the process of adding micronutrients to food to provide a public health benefit with minimal risk." World Health Organization guidelines on food safety. (WHO/FAO Guidelines on Food Fortification)
- "The fortification of milk with Vitamin D in the 1930s helped nearly eliminate rickets in the United States." Discussing the history of breakfast cereal.
Memory hook
Think of a 'fortress'—fortification makes your body a fortress against germs. Fortification builds a 'fort' of health.
When not to use
Don't confuse this with the military sense (building walls) unless you are using a metaphor.
Fun facts
- Iodized salt was one of the first examples of mass fortification, designed to prevent goiters.
Related words
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