Vitamin D Fortification of Dairy Products in the United Kingdom: What are the Barriers?

Abstract

Given the inadequate vitamin D intake and status in the United Kingdom (UK) population, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recognised the difficulty of achieving a reference nutrient intake of vitamin D (10 μg/day) simply from natural food sources. Therefore, additional food vehicles for vitamin D fortification are needed to improve vitamin D intake and status. Dairy products represent a potential vehicle for fortification, given their status as staple foods in the UK. In recent workshops (October 2024 and March 2025), barriers to vitamin D fortification of dairy products were discussed by a group of experts. The main conclusions from the workshops are presented in this review and position paper and are as follows: 1). There is convincing evidence of the need to improve vitamin D status. 2). Further evidence is required including modelling studies to examine a wide variety of dairy products potentially being fortified using the UK population data, especially those who are at risk of vitamin D deficiency such as children and young female populations, as well as cost evaluation studies of vitamin D fortification. 3). More research on consumer preferences towards vitamin D-fortified dairy products is needed. 4). Vitamin D fortification of dairy products may not be technically difficult, but it may involve additional cost for dairy food manufacturers, such as purchasing specific equipment for vitamin D addition. 5). The retailing and promotion of vitamin D-fortified dairy products are influenced by various factors such as price and customer perceptions. This review further 1). Highlights the barriers to the promotion and legislation of mandatory vitamin D fortification policy of dairy products, 2). Reviews current evidence of each barrier, and 3). Identifies research gaps that need to be addressed in the future.

Daniele Asioli

Associate Professor in Agri-Food Economics and Marketing
Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry

My main interests deal with agrifood marketing, behavioural economics, consumer research methods, economics of food, food policy, new food product development, new technologies, and multivariate statistical data analysis.