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Vitamins and mineral salts in the dock
The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (FSA) is concerned about excessively high consumption of vitamins and mineral salts. It is asking in particular that manufacturers reduce the doses offered for sale. Not such an odd request…
In France, similar warnings have already been issued in recent months. As pointed out by the FSA, most British people do not need to take vitamins or mineral salts in addition to their daily dietary ration. Nor do French people or Americans for that matter… Such vitamins are already largely present in what we eat every day. However, nowadays, some fruits and vegetables are even enriched with vitamins!
“Regularly adding vitamin pills to the amount already obtained from traditional diets will inevitably result in surpluses”. The FSA thus assessed over four years the harmful effects of the excessive intake of vitamins and other mineral salts.
It is a proven fact: for smokers or people exposed to asbestos, excess carotene increases the risk of pulmonary cancers. Chromium picolinate, a food supplement found in slimming products, is also carcinogenic when taken in excess. Excessive amounts of vitamin C – 1000 mg per day is soon exceeded – can give rise to stomach ache, diarrhoea and flatulence. Excess vitamin A increases the risk of osteoporosis and foetal malformation.
Well, that takes the biscuit… Given this, the British agency is recommending to manufacturers of food supplements and vitamins to reduce doses of active substances in their products. It is also calling on the public to beware of the risks of excess intake. Let’s hope that consumers, who are always right, will get the message…
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