As the threat of world war loomed in 1941, scientists considered how to best feed millions of American soldiers. What types of nutrients would they need? And how could foods be fortified with these nutrients and packaged into ready-to-eat meals?
Before the decade was over, scientists had identified 13 vitamins essential to human nutrition. Food historian Mark Bittman writes in Animal, Vegetable, Junk: A History of Food from Sustainable to Suicidal how the 1940s ushered in “vitamania” and consumer demand for supplements.
Vitamania still rages, and more than $55 billion worth of dietary supplements were sold in the U.S. in 2020. But does a person need to spend big money on a well-known brand? Or can a house brand from a local big box store provide the same benefits?
Buyer Beware
Many people turn to well-known brands simply because nutraceuticals are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
