Food fortification can be used to restore nutrients lost during processing, for example, or to increase their levels for public health reasons. Today, food fortification is also carried out because consumers want certain types of products.
There is no legal obligation to fortify food in Finland. Fortification is voluntary and is regulated by the EU Fortification Regulation (EC No 1925/2006). The most common vitamins and minerals used to fortify food are vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, niacin, and vitamins B12 and B6. For example, beverages such as milk, oat drinks, soft drinks, and margarines and other vegetable oil-based fat spreads are often fortified. The fortification is indicated on the packaging labels.