Cookies: Enriched Flour

Enriched flour is white flour that has had certain B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid) and iron added back after they were removed during the milling process. It is typically made from wheat grains, which are milled to remove the bran and germ, leaving the starchy endosperm.

Manufacturers use enriched flour as a primary ingredient in a wide range of baked goods and other food products. It provides structure and texture to items like cookies, bread, cakes, and pasta, serving as a source of carbohydrates.

Enriched flour is a common food ingredient in the US and is not regulated as a food additive by the FDA. The enrichment process, which adds back essential nutrients, was introduced to address nutrient deficiencies in the population. JECFA and EFSA do not typically evaluate basic food ingredients like flour in the same way they evaluate food additives.