Answer:
1. The foods that are enriched with additional nutrients to curb the issue of nutrient deficiencies mainly in the rural and underdeveloped nations are termed as fortified foods. The most general kinds of foods, which undergo fortification are cereals and cereal-based components, milk and dairy products, tea and beverages, fats and oils, and others.
2. The prime goal of fortification is to add essential micronutrients and vitamins within the food. Minimum health risk and public health benefits, and enhancing the nutritional content of the food is the prime objective of fortification of foods.
3. Some of the fortified foods like fortified rice that are rich in zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron may have an impact on certain kinds of diseased conditions, therefore, the consumers need to be aware of the fortified foods they are using.
4. The fortified foods if taken in excess may result in a nutrient imbalance in certain cases, therefore, they are not essentially good for consumption. Some kind of fortified milk like rice milk with sugar, fat fortified unflavored yogurt, and sodium fortified high-quality salt are some of the examples of fortified foods high in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
5. In the United States, fortification is regulated by the FDA and mandatory fortification is done on some kinds of food not all. This is done so that standard nutrient enrichment is meet. However, the foods, which are rich in nutrients do not further require any kind of enrichment or fortification.