Tag: Non enriched pasta

According to the FDA, many refined grain products in the United States, including pasta, are enriched with specific vitamins and minerals to replace nutrients lost during processing. This practice raises a critical question for modern consumers: does pasta need to be enriched to be a healthy dietary component?

According to Barilla's own website and product labels, many of their most popular pasta products are enriched with essential nutrients. This practice is common in the U.S. and helps replenish some of the nutrients lost during the milling of wheat flour.

According to the Grain Foods Foundation, less than 7% of Americans meet the recommended daily intake for whole grains. When asking, "is non-enriched pasta better for you?" the answer depends largely on whether it is made from whole grains or refined grains, which have dramatically different nutritional profiles.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated the fortification of enriched grain products with folic acid since 1998 to prevent neural tube defects. This means that most standard store-bought pastas are fortified, leading many consumers to ask: Which pasta does not contain folic acid? The answer lies in seeking out specific unfortified and alternative grain varieties.