Minerals
NutrientOverview
Mineral fortification in ultra-processed foods uses synthetic compounds like calcium carbonate, ferrous sulfate, and zinc oxide that have different bioavailability than naturally occurring minerals. These isolated minerals lack the food matrix interactions that facilitate absorption in whole foods.
68,776
Products contain this
4,462
Ingredient variations
Common forms
Calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, mineral salts
Function
Industrial mineral fortification addresses nutrient losses from processing, enables health claims, and standardizes nutritional profiles across product lines. Fortification allows processed foods to meet regulatory requirements despite removal of natural nutrients.
Sources
Synthetic minerals are produced through chemical processes including precipitation reactions, electrolysis, and purification from mined materials. These differ from minerals naturally chelated with amino acids and organic compounds in whole foods.
Health Considerations
Isolated mineral supplements may compete for absorption and lack synergistic nutrients present in whole food sources. High fortification levels can cause imbalances and may not provide equivalent benefits to naturally occurring minerals.
Regulatory
FDA establishes Daily Values and permits various mineral forms for fortification with specific bioavailability and safety requirements. Fortification levels may exceed natural concentrations by 10-100 fold.
Common Variations (50 total)
Products Containing Minerals
Showing 12 of 68,776 products, sorted by processing level