Episode details

Is fortified food really the fix, or could it be doing more harm than good?

In 2002, Rob Verkerk was seven years into postdoctoral research at Imperial College when EU legislation threatened to restrict natural forms of vitamins and minerals. He took a sabbatical to fight it, turned down tenure, and founded the Alliance for Natural Health. More than two decades on, he’s still making the case for “good science and good law”.

In this episode, Verónica Muñoz sits down with Rob to ask why adding nutrients to refined foods isn’t the answer. They put folate forms to the test, exploring why synthetic folic acid isn’t the same as bioactive methylfolate, who struggles to convert it, and why those most at risk often have the least access to better options. Rob also shares practical advice on getting more from zinc and magnesium, from timing and form to splitting your dose.

They also tackle the bigger picture: proposed caps on vitamin and mineral levels in Europe, the new EU rules on gene-edited crops, which Rob argues could let them reach shelves without safety testing or labels, and why he favours metabolic flexibility over dietary dogma.

Whether you’re a practitioner, a student or simply curious about what’s on your plate, this is a conversation about why real food and personalised nutrition education should come first.