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Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers on FDA’s Fortification Policy

FinalHuman Foods Program11/05/2015

Description

The achievement and maintenance of a desirable level of nutritional quality in the nation’s food supply is an important public health objective.  Adding nutrients to specific foods is an effective way of maintaining and improving the overall nutritional quality of the food supply.  However, random fortification of foods could result in over- or underfortification in consumer diets and create nutrient imbalances in the food supply.  It could also result in deceptive or misleading claims on certain foods.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

9
Conventional Foods

Standard food products subject to nutrition labeling; General food labeling context; Standard food products requiring Nutrition Facts.

Standardized Food

Foods with names and compositions prescribed by regulation

Infant Formula

The primary product category covered by the guidance; Essential food product that is the sole source of nutrition for many infants.

Dietary Supplements

Category of products covered in the table of contents; Covered by allergen labeling requirements; Guidance on declaring major food allergens for dietary supplements.

Standardized Foods

Foods subject to certain standards of identity may be required to be fortified

Conventional Food

Food marketed for general consumption, distinct from dietary supplements.; Comparison point for intake levels

Dietary Supplement

Products containing dietary ingredients intended to supplement the diet; The final product category for which the NDI is intended.

Standard of Identity

Regulations specifying ingredients and manufacturing for specific food names.

Standardized enriched grain products

Food category required to be fortified with folic acid.

Stakeholders

1
Manufacturer

Entity responsible for submitting NDINs

Regulatory Context

Attributes

4
Reference Daily Intake

Basis for defining nutrient content claim levels

Nutritional Inferiority

Condition where a substitute food lacks nutrients compared to a traditional food

Tolerable Upper Intake Level

UL used to assess safe limits of nutrient addition.

Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

ULs established by the IOM to assess excessive nutrient intake.

Identified Hazards

Hazards

1
Nutrient Imbalances

Random fortification could create nutrient imbalances in the food supply

Related CFR Sections (14)

Related Warning Letters (7)

  • CGMP/Dietary Supplement/Adulterated/Misbranded

    Time Challenger Labs International, Inc.

    2025-09-30
  • Seafood HACCP/CGMP for Foods/Adulterated/Insanitary Conditions

    CR Grupo Comercial Alvacora S.A.

    2022-09-13
  • Unapproved and Misbranded Products Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

    H2 Beverages, Inc.

    2022-07-19
  • Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded

    Nutrishus Brands, Inc.

    2021-07-28
  • New Drug/Misbranded

    Before Brands Inc

    2020-10-20
  • Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded

    Prollergy Corporation/Ready Set Food

    2020-10-20
  • Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded

    Only Natural, Inc. dba Bio Nutrition, Inc.

    2020-06-30

See Also (8)

Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers on FDA’s Fortification Policy | Guideline Explorer | BioRegHub