Dietary ingredients refer to any substance added to food, either intentionally or unintentionally, that has a nutritional or physiological effect on the body. These can include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other organic compounds found in foods or used as supplements. The term is often used interchangeably with "food additives" which refers to any substance added to food for technical or functional reasons, such as preservation or flavor enhancement. In contrast, dietary ingredients are specifically focused on the nutritional value of a food product.