Is there a difference between mandatory fortification and voluntary fortification of foods?
Yes. Mandatory fortification is where food manufacturers are required to add a certain vitamin or mineral to a specified food or foods. These are added in response to a significant public health need, for example, manufacturers must add vitamin D to margarine and thiamin and folic acid to wheat flour used for making bread in Australia. Voluntary fortification allows food manufacturers to choose what vitamins and minerals they want to add to food, providing they are permitted in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). For example many breakfast cereals are fortified with a range of vitamins and minerals. Where in the Code are the regulations that allow vitamins and minerals to be added to food? Most of the vitamin and mineral permissions can be found in Standard 1.3.2 – Vitamins and Minerals. There are other standards that also include requirements and permissions for adding vitamins and minerals to specific foods. For example, Standard 2.1.1 – Cereals and Cereal Produ
