Chapter 13: Go Forth and Fortify

I have always believed that fortified foods are a science-light movement to squeeze extra money out of affluent, already nutritionally healthy people. I didn't realize until reading this chapter how useless fortification really is. It angers me that the only American populations who need the added help are also the only populations who probably cannot afford it.
The worst part of the fortification movement is that it is negatively affecting the American public. People are ignoring high salt, sugar, and saturated fat content because a label says "contains 40% of daily vitamin needs!" or "Great source of calcium!" The micronutrient obsession which plagues America has taken the focus away from common sense, and sent consumers on goose chase after goose chase, making sure they have enough of a particular vitamin or mineral. What happened to eating vegetables? Sensibility doesn't sell, I suppose. I understand what motivates industry: the bottom line. I also understand that the American consumers are often motivated by fear and paranoia. I believe the only way to get this craze under control is to re-educate. Maybe we need to forget many of the isolated micronutrient studies that have been conducted over the past 10 years.
This book makes very frustrated with the American consumer, because they're trying to act in their best interest, but often end up harming themselves. Industry, though it often acts in ways that aren't concerned with public interest, is at least achieving what it set out to do--make money, lots and lots of money.