What is the term for adding nutrients to a food that it did not have originally?

The correct term for adding nutrients to a food that it did not have originally is fortification. This process involves the deliberate addition of vitamins, minerals, or other beneficial substances to enhance the nutritional profile of a food product, especially when those nutrients are not naturally present in significant amounts. For example, milk is often fortified with vitamin D to aid in calcium absorption, and breakfast cereals may be fortified with iron and B vitamins to address common nutrient deficiencies.

Enrichment, while similar, refers specifically to restoring nutrients that were lost during the processing of a food. Supplementation generally involves providing nutrients in the form of pills, capsules, or powders, rather than altering the food itself. Enhancement can be related to improving the sensory or functional properties of food but does not specifically denote the addition of nutrients that were absent initially. Each term has its own precise meaning, with fortification being the most applicable in this context.