Minerals

Minerals are inorganic elements added to food products through fortification or naturally present in food ingredients. Common mineral additives include calcium carbonate, ferrous sulfate, ferric orthophosphate, zinc oxide, potassium iodide, magnesium oxide, and sodium selenate. Mineral fortification of staple foods has been one of the most widely implemented public health interventions, with iodized salt and iron-enriched flour being among the earliest and most widespread examples. The FDA mandates fortification of certain foods with specific minerals to address population-level nutritional gaps.

Minerals are added to breakfast cereals, enriched flour and bread, iodized salt, fortified milk and plant-based milks, infant formula, sports drinks, protein powders, meal replacement products, fortified juices, and many packaged foods carrying mineral content claims.

Level (high → low)Level (low → high)Name (A–Z)Name (Z–A)

AllL1L2L3L4

Shoprite, Scrunchy, Toasted Oats Sweetened Oat Cereal, Apple Cinnamon

8.15.5/10

Apple Cinnamon Sweetened Toasted Oat Cereal

8.10.0/10

Glutino, Gluten Free Crackers, Cheddar

8.13.5/10

Margarita & Lime White Corn Tortilla Chips

8.10.0/10

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House Italian Made with Peramesan Cheese

8.11.5/10

Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Honey Uncured Ham, Oven Roasted, Honey

8.16.0/10

Apple Cinnamon Sweetened Toasted Oat Cereal, Apple Cinnamon

8.15.5/10

Chocolatey, Sweetened Rice Cereal, Chocolatey, Sweetened

8.11.5/10

Chocolatey, Sweetened Rice Cereal, Chocolatey

8.11.5/10

Kellogg's Eggo Pancakes Blueberry 3.03oz

8.14.0/10

Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies Cereal 1.1oz

8.11.5/10

Progresso Traditional Homestyle Chicken Soup

8.15.0/10

Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies Cereal 1.38oz

8.11.5/10

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Cereal

8.14.5/10

Cinnamon Toasters Cereal

8.10.0/10

Food Lion, Jelly, Apple

5.32.5/10

Kroger, Jelly, Concord Grape

5.32.5/10

Kroger, Squeezable Jelly, Grape

5.32.5/10

Kroger, Original Coffee Creamer

5.34.0/10

Cream Soup Powder

5.30.5/10

Food Lion, Coffee Creamer, Original

5.35.0/10

Hannaford, Coffee Creamer

5.30.0/10

Lowes Foods, Concord Grape Jam

5.32.5/10

Shamrock Farms, Lowfat Butter Milk

5.35.5/10

St. Louis Style Pizza

5.35.0/10

Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

5.32.5/10

Dutch Licorice Coins

5.30.0/10

Bush's Pinto Beans with Jalapenos 16 Oz

5.36.5/10

Burger Seasoning

5.30.0/10

Concord Grape Jelly Sweetened with Grape Juice Concentrate, Concord Grape

5.32.0/10

Red Gold 28oz. Diced Tomatoes

3.04.5/10

Tuttorosso Green 28oz. Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes in Juice

3.05.0/10

Tuttorosso Green 28oz. Diced Tomatoes in Juice

3.04.5/10

Tutturosso Green 14.5oz. Diced Tomatoes

3.04.5/10

Hunts Organic Diced Tomatoes

3.00.0/10

Iberia, Valencian Rice

2.87.0/10

Dorado Parboiled Rice

2.88.0/10

Golden Canilla Parboiled Enriched Long Grain Rice

2.88.0/10

Enriched Rice Flour

2.80.0/10

Extra Long Grain Enriched Rice

Goya

2.87.0/10

Enriched Parboiled Long Grain Rice

Chefs Premium Rice

2.87.0/10

Bone Meal Bioavailable Calcium Powder

Now

2.85.0/10

Sweet Apples, Cheese, Pretzels Snacker

Crunch Pak

2.85.5/10

Enriched Medium Grain Rice

Goya

2.87.0/10

Enriched Extra Long Grain Rice

Goya

2.88.0/10

Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes, No Salt Added

2.00.0/10

Apple Slices Sweet

2.05.0/10

Badia, Sazonador Fajita Seasoning

2.03.0/10

Food Lion, Large Pitted Ripe Olives

2.00.0/10

Food Lion, Sliced Ripe Olives

2.00.0/10

Shoprite, Sliced Ripe Olives

2.00.0/10

Large California Ripe Pitted Olives

2.03.0/10

Butternut Squash Ravioli, Butternut Squash

Giovanni Rana

1.56.0/10

Margherita Crust Pizza Made with Cauliflower, Margherita

Happi Foodi

1.55.5/10

Banana Bread & Muffin Mix, Banana

Miss Jones Baking Co.

1.55.5/10

Diamond Crystal, Salt Sense, Salt

1.00.0/10

Spanish Cheese Plate

1.03.0/10

Roaster Bell Pepper, Roaster

Kitchen & Love

1.05.5/10

Light Cream, Light

Hood

1.00.0/10

Instant Corn Masa Flour

Great Value

1.09.0/10

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Minerals can appear in ingredient lists under several names. If you see any of the following, this is the ingredient family you are looking at:

Mineral additives restore minerals lost during food processing, fortify staple foods to address population-wide nutritional gaps, and enhance the nutritional profile of products for labeling and marketing purposes. In food manufacturing, some minerals also serve functional roles beyond nutrition — calcium sulfate acts as a firming agent in canned vegetables, tricalcium phosphate serves as an anticaking agent in powdered foods, and iron compounds contribute color to some products. The specific chemical form of each mineral affects its bioavailability, stability, and sensory impact in food products.

Mineral compounds used in food fortification are obtained through mining, chemical synthesis, or purification of natural mineral deposits. Calcium carbonate is derived from limestone or marble. Ferrous sulfate is produced by dissolving iron in sulfuric acid. Zinc oxide is produced by oxidizing zinc metal. Potassium iodide is manufactured from iodine-containing brines. Sodium selenate is synthesized from selenium compounds. The specific chemical form of each mineral is selected based on bioavailability, stability in the food matrix, sensory impact (taste, color), and cost considerations.

Mineral fortification levels are set based on recommended dietary intakes established by the National Academies of Sciences. Upper intake levels (ULs) have been established for several minerals. The bioavailability of mineral supplements varies by chemical form. Some mineral interactions can affect absorption — for example, calcium can inhibit nonheme iron absorption when consumed simultaneously. Iron content is declared on the Nutrition Facts label, and calcium, potassium, and iron content declarations are mandatory.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

The FDA mandates fortification of certain foods with specific minerals, including iodine in iodized salt and iron in enriched grain products. Permitted mineral forms and maximum levels are specified in standards of identity and fortification regulations. The Nutrition Facts label requires declaration of calcium, iron, and potassium content (vitamin D is also mandatory). The EU regulates permitted mineral forms and maximum levels under Regulation EC 1925/2006 and maintains a positive list of approved mineral compounds.