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How the new EU Food Supplements Directive affects
consumers
By WLR Dietitian
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I buy a standard multivitamin and mineral supplement. Will
I still be able to get it after August 2005
Yes! If you take the types of vitamin and mineral
supplements you find in supermarkets or pharmacies, you’ll
almost certainly have little to worry about. However, the
formulation of your supplement may change slightly. For
example, your supplement may be reformulated so that it no
longer contains certain nutrients that are not on the positive
list such as boron or vanadium. However, some manufacturers
may have submitted a safety dossier for certain vitamins and
minerals that are currently excluded from the positive list
and so their product may still include these. Bear in mind,
too, that some manufacturers have already reformulated their
products so the best advice is to check the label of your
supplement if you’re not sure what it contains.
I take a supplement that contains a really high dose of
vitamin C. Will I still be able to get this?
Yes, for the time being but things will soon change.
Maximum doses are likely to be introduced in 2007 but at the
moment it’s unclear what these are likely to be. It’s a case
of watch this space! We’ll make sure we update you as soon as
there’s more news.
What vitamins and minerals have been banned under the
Directive?
No vitamins have been banned but six minerals often used in
food supplements have been excluded from the positive list. These
are tin, silicon, nickel, boron, cobalt and vanadium. However,
some will continue to be included in products until the
European Food Safety Authority decides on their safety and so
potentially may be found in supplements until the end of 2009.
Furthermore, many chemical forms or sources of vitamins and
minerals have been banned. Again, some of these have had
safety dossiers submitted, others have not.
Does the Directive look at anything else other than the
vitamins and minerals that should be used in food supplements and
suitable doses?
Yes! It also sets down rules for the labelling of food
supplements with the aim of enabling consumers to make
informed choices about whether or not they should take the
product. Supplements must not suggest they will prevent, treat
or cure a disease. Furthermore, they must make it clear that
they shouldn’t be used as a substitute for a varied diet or
imply that a varied diet can’t provide appropriate amounts of
nutrients.
My GP prescribes me vitamins. Will these be affected under
the new legislation?
No! The directive considers food supplements to be separate
from medicines. In other words, food supplements are put in a
group with food rather than medicine and are sold under food
law in supermarkets, pharmacies and health food shops. The
Directive does not cover vitamins and minerals that are
licensed medicinal products. This means if you need these
products you’ll still be able to get them on prescription from
your GP.
Are any other supplements such as herbal products or cod
liver oil affected?
Not at the moment but they soon will be. Currently, the
Directive only deals with vitamins and minerals but it’s going
to be extended to cover other food supplements including herb and
plant extracts, fatty acids, amino acids and fibre extracts.
Isn’t this just a case of the European Union limiting the
choice of supplements available?
Consumers should certainly be in a position to take higher
doses of vitamins and minerals if they feel there is a benefit
from doing so. However, if there’s a risk that certain doses
may cause harm, it’s important to have restrictions in place.
Ultimately, the legislation will mean that consumers have more
protection and are in a position to make a more informed
choice about the products they’re taking or thinking about
taking. The new law will mean that consumers have plenty of
information about the product and can be confident that the
supplement is safe and of good quality.
I’ve been taking food supplements for years because I’ve
thought they are healthy. I definitely feel better for it so
why do restrictions need to be made?
It’s often assumed that as vitamins and minerals are good
for us, then more must be better. But this isn’t always the
case. Until now, there’s been limited information about the
vitamins and minerals that could potentially risk our health
and at what level these risks may occur. Now this information
is available, it’s important that manufacturers act on it in
order to protect their customers.
So have I done myself harm by taking supplements that
include ingredients excluded from the ‘positive list’?
It’s highly unlikely! Vitamins and minerals have been
around since food itself, but the forms in which they now
occur in supplements are new and often the doses are much
higher than you’d find in food. The maximum doses that are set
will act as a safeguard to ensure you don’t suffer any health
problems as a result of consuming excessive amounts.
I still don’t agree with the new legislation. Where can I
voice my concerns?
One of the main organisations campaigning against the
legislation is the Alliance for Natural Health. Log on to
their website at
www.alliance-natural-health.org to find out more.
Bottom line: do I really need to take a supplement?
If you’re eating a good diet it’s possible to get all the
vitamins and minerals you need (see
Healthy Eating
Basics). However, there are a few
exceptions.
Firstly, there’s good evidence that folic acid (a B
vitamin) can help to prevent the risk of having a baby with a
neural tube defect such as spina bifida. It’s difficult to get
sufficient amounts from the diet alone, so all women trying
for a baby and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are advised
to take a supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid.
Meanwhile, the latest National Diet and Nutrition survey
shows that many people in the UK are having low intakes of
certain vitamins and minerals and may therefore be at risk of
deficiency. Consequently, they may benefit from supplementing
their diet.
Generally speaking, women are more likely to be at risk of
poor nutrient intakes than men. Meanwhile, younger adults and
elderly people are more likely to have low nutrient intakes
than other adults.
In particular, many groups of the population have poor
intakes of vitamin A, riboflavin (vitamin B2), iron, calcium,
magnesium, potassium and iodine. Fortunately, none of these
ingredients have been banned and will still continue to be
found in multivitamin and mineral supplements, although in the
first instance it’s better to boost intakes by eating more
foods rich in these nutrients.
For more information, see next month’s feature on how to
ensure you’re meeting your requirements for vitamins and
minerals – without resorting to pill popping. |
