What are Functional Foods?

A "functional food" is a food that is designed to meet a specific need, generally to add a nutrient that is not found naturally in the specific food. It is also used to create a food product to be a 'vehicle' to deliver a nutrient that is not being consumed in sufficient amount.

Functional foods include processed foods or foods fortified with health promoting additives. These are often termed "vitamin enriched".

Examples of Functional Foods:

• Adding omega 3 to chicken feed to help those who can't or won't eat fish or other foods that provide omega 3s.
• Adding iodine to table salt, or Vitamin D to milk, done to resolve public health problems such as rickets.