Comment by AStonesThrow

Because they're not actually making it useful, they are merely trying to convince the general public that it is, or at least not harmful, so they can blithely dump away.

Another interesting example is refined salt. Traditionally, when salt is mined or derived from seawater, it contains a multitude of trace minerals that are often beneficial and nutritious. It is this payload of minerals that has contributed to the excellent reputation of salt over the millennia.

However, now the salt company will refine the hell out of the salt, turning it into pure white NaCl table salt. Then, they turn around and sell all the trace minerals and nutrients to supplement companies which manufacture nutritional supplements and derive extra value from that surplus.

The general public is left with virtually worthless table salt that contains nothing but NaCl. This is why an excess of salt is harmful in your diet, because you're adding empty sodium without any fringe benefits!!!