7,000 sign petition against removal of high-dose vitamins from health stores

Up to 7,000 consumers have signed a petition against the impending removal of high-dosage vitamins and minerals from Irish health stores, in line with the EU Food Supplements Directive (2002).

The petition, which is organised by the Irish Association of Health Stores (IAHS) and the Irish Health Trade Association (IHTA) aims to raise awareness of the public demand for high-dosage vitamins and minerals in this country.

"We launched the petition three weeks ago and a mini-survey of 18 shops shows how strongly people feel about the planned removal of these food supplements from our stores," said Jill Bell, president of the IAHS.

"With 250 health stores in total [ in Ireland], you could say that figure represents over 70,000 signatures and the campaign will run until the end of the September."

According to Ms Bell, consumers are "anxious and outraged" that vitamins and mineral supplements they have been using for a long time may be removed from the shelves.

"Ireland, along with the UK, has a tradition of higher level supplement usage, extending back more than 40 years," she said.

"Not a single case of any serious side effect has been recorded in that time," Ms Bell added.

A consumer survey in 2001 found that 45 per cent of the Irish population take food supplements.

The European Commission is currently working out the maximum permitted levels for every vitamin and mineral in food supplements and fortified foods, following scientific advice from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

According to Prof Albert Flynn of the EFSA, the European authority has defined the upper intake levels of vitamins and minerals from all sources (ie, foods, fortified foods and food supplements).

Meanwhile, Alan Reilly, deputy chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), said yesterday that consumers should be aware that the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) are the amount that the average person needs for a balanced diet and that taking more won't necessarily do you any good.

"The FSAI cautions against the use of large quantities of vitamins and minerals in supplement form. People are better off eating a healthy diet with full foods than relying on concentrated forms of vitamins and minerals in supplements," he said.

Apart from their online and in-store petition, the IAHS is also preparing a submission to the EU petitions committee to lobby for the continued availability of high-dosage vitamins and minerals in Ireland. The submission is expected to be made at the end of August.