The development of the market voluntarily fortified foodstuffs with vitamins and/or minerals contributes to their increased supply, which may have an influence on the reduction of micronutrient deficiency. The aim of the study was to identify and describe products with added minerals on the food market in Warsaw and to assess the possibility of increasing the intake of those nutrients by including such products in the daily diet. Data were gathered using the information provided on labels from foodstuffs in 14 Warsaw supermarkets during March to October 2014. There were 301 food products with added minerals available on the Warsaw market. The number of minerals added to the products ranged from 1 to 7, and they were calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, iodine, potassium, and selenium. The majority of the products were fortified with calcium (71.1%) and iron (46.5%), while magnesium was added to a smaller number of products (21.3%). Selenium, iodine, potassium and zinc were added only to a few products. Cereals (32.2%) and dairy products (19.9%) constituted the largest food groups. The addition of minerals also occurred in soya products, sweets, powdered instant cacao and non-alcoholic beverages. Owing to the wide range of products with added calcium, iron and magnesium available on the market, there is a possibility to increase daily intake of these minerals. Since a large part of analyzed foodstuffs also contained added sugar and/or salt and were simultaneously targeted at children and youth, some limitations should be developed regarding the enrichment of such products with nutrients as well as advertising them to young consumers as a key goal for improving public health.

22.4.2016