Is vitamin D added to milk in the UK?

Quick answer. No, ordinary cows' milk in the UK is generally not fortified with vitamin D. The NHS says "In the UK, cows' milk is generally not a good source of vitamin D because it is not fortified, as it is in some other countries", and the government's CoFID 2021 data lists whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed pasteurised milk at only a trace. Some products do have vitamin D added, including infant formula, fortified dried skimmed milk (1.5µg per 100g) and fortified soya drinks (0.8µg per 100g), so the label is the thing to check.

Is milk fortified with vitamin D in the UK?

Ordinary cows' milk is not. The NHS vitamin D page says it directly: "In the UK, cows' milk is generally not a good source of vitamin D because it is not fortified, as it is in some other countries."

The word "generally" matters. Fresh whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk on the supermarket shelf is not fortified as standard. A few milk products do have vitamin D added, and they say so on the pack. The sections below show which ones, with figures.

This is one of the places where advice from other countries can mislead. A recipe, an article or a nutrition app written for another market may count a glass of milk as a source of vitamin D. For UK milk, that figure does not apply.

Does milk have vitamin D in the UK?

Only a trace. The government's Composition of Foods Integrated Dataset (CoFID) measures UK foods and publishes the results per 100g. In its 2021 release, standard pasteurised whole, semi-skimmed, skimmed and 1% milk are all listed at "Tr", which CoFID defines as a trace value. That holds for its summer and winter samples alike.

The right-hand column is calculated: each CoFID figure divided by the 10 micrograms a day the NHS advises everyone to consider in autumn and winter. CoFID calls plant drinks "non-dairy alternative to milk".

For comparison, a 200ml glass of fortified soya drink at 0.8µg per 100g gives 1.6 micrograms (calculated). A glass of ordinary UK cows' milk gives a trace.

Which milks and dairy foods have vitamin D added?

When a UK milk product has vitamin D added, the nutrition panel on the pack shows a vitamin D figure. The products with added vitamin D that the official sources name are:

• Infant formula. The NHS says babies on more than 500ml of formula a day do not need a separate supplement, "as infant formula is already fortified with vitamin D".
• Fortified dried skimmed milk. CoFID lists 1.5µg per 100g of powder for its fortified sample.
• Fortified plant drinks. See the next section.

Other dairy foods carry small amounts, mostly from the milk fat. CoFID gives butter 0.9µg per 100g, English Cheddar 0.3µg and most yoghurts 0.1µg or less. None of them comes close to the 10 micrograms in the NHS advice.

Do plant milks have vitamin D?

Many do, because it is added. The NHS guide to a vegan diet lists "fortified fat spreads, breakfast cereals and unsweetened soya drinks (with vitamin D added)" as good sources of vitamin D. The British Dietetic Association also names unsweetened soya "milk" among foods fortified with vitamin D.

Fortification varies by brand and by drink. Oat, almond, rice and coconut drinks may or may not have vitamin D added, so check the nutrition panel for a vitamin D figure. CoFID's fortified soya drinks, sweetened and unsweetened, both come out at 0.8µg per 100g. The NHS adds one more thing to check if you are vegan: "Read the label to ensure the vitamin D used in a product is not of animal origin."

The NHS milk and dairy page says "Unsweetened calcium-fortified dairy alternatives, made from plants like soya, coconuts or oats, also count as part of this food group." Calcium and vitamin D are different nutrients, though, and a drink can have one added without the other.

Why does milk still matter for bones?

Milk is a good source of calcium even though it carries little vitamin D. The NHS says "Milk and dairy products, such as cheese and yoghurt, are great sources of protein and calcium."

The two nutrients work together. The NHS says vitamin D "helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body", and the authorised health claim in Great Britain says vitamin D contributes to normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D also contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth. So milk can supply the calcium, while the vitamin D has to come from somewhere else.

Where does UK vitamin D come from, if not milk?

• Sunlight, in spring and summer. From about late March or early April to the end of September, the NHS says most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. See how much sunlight you need for vitamin D in the UK.
• A small number of foods. Oily fish, egg yolks, red meat, liver and fortified foods. Our guide to vitamin D foods in the UK has the per-100g figures.
• A supplement, in autumn and winter. The NHS says everyone should consider a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter.

Where Immufix fits.

Immufix is not a vitamin D supplement and it does not replace one. One scoop (25g) in around 200ml of water, once a day, provides 1.25 micrograms of vitamin D3, which is 25% of the nutrient reference value. That is less than the NHS's 10 micrograms in autumn and winter, so if you follow that advice, take a dedicated vitamin D supplement as well and count the 1.25 micrograms in your total (see what the NHS advises in winter). Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth and to normal muscle function. The full list of amounts is on the science page.

The short version.

• Ordinary UK cows' milk is generally not fortified with vitamin D, according to the NHS.
• CoFID 2021 lists fresh whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk at a trace of vitamin D.
• Infant formula, fortified dried milk and many soya drinks have vitamin D added. Check the label.
• Milk is still a good source of calcium. Vitamin D contributes to normal absorption and utilisation of calcium.
• From October to March, the NHS advises everyone to consider 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day from a supplement.

Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking any food supplement.