Critics voice concerns over the unsophisticated nature of dietary supplements
Dietary Supplements Face Criticism Over Lack of Risk Awareness Among Consumers
Consumer advocates contend that many individuals fail to critically evaluate the safety and research backing of dietary supplements, leading to a lack of risk awareness. A study by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) reveals this sentiment, which will be released this Wednesday in the "Süddeutsche Zeitung."
The multibillion-dollar industry of dietary supplements is rarely questioned by consumers who often assume these products are safe and adequately researched. Jochen Geilenkirchen, head of the food team at the Federation of German Consumer Organisations, shares his concerns that unsolicited health claims, particularly in advertising on social media, may leave consumers underestimating the risks associated with dietary supplements.
According to the study, approximately one-fifth of participants surveyed believe dietary supplements are integral to a balanced diet. About half (49%) mistakenly assume the products are tested for health safety prior to sale. Moreover, four out of ten respondents expect there to be legal maximum limits for dietary supplement ingredients, although this is not the case.
Consumer advocates argue that many consumers perceive dietary supplements as a form of natural medicine, despite its legal classification as food and the absence of intensive approval testing. They hold the political sphere responsible for this oversight and call for increased efforts to enforce food monitoring to safeguard consumers against misleading advertising claims. The federal government should push for an EU-wide approval process, the advocates insist.
In the EU, the authorisation and monitoring of botanicals in dietary supplements are assigned to individual Member States, not the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). On the other hand, the EFSA is responsible for the safety evaluation and approval of food additives used in supplements, adhering to strict guidelines and scientific assessment. Specifically, applicants must submit detailed documentation, including administrative data, manufacturing processes, physicochemical data, and toxicological studies for EU-wide approvals. Moreover, botanical ingredients and certain supplements require pre-market registration or notification with national authorities [1][2][3][4].
Labeling and health claims regulations are also crucial in the EU, as only health claims included in the EU Register of authorized health claims are allowed. Most health claims on supplements, particularly botanicals, are subject to strict regulations, and many require "on-hold" or "pending approval" statements [2][3]. Consumer advocates advocate for greater enforcement of labeling, market surveillance, and quality assurance in the registration process, emphasizing the importance of improving public communication to raise consumer awareness and protection [2][3].
In conclusion, consumer advocates support robust, transparent, and harmonized monitoring and approval processes for dietary supplements across the EU, especially for botanical ingredients, to ensure safety, accurate labeling, and compliance with health claims. They stress the need for enhanced enforcement, ongoing re-evaluation, and clear communication with consumers [1][2][3].
The community continues to overlook the importance of critically evaluating the science and safety of dietary supplements, as many consumers mistakenly perceive these products as inherently safe and adequately researched. In light of this, advocates propose that the political sphere should enforce stricter food monitoring policies, particularly in the realm of vocational training for regulatory bodies, to curb misleading advertising claims and increase health-and-wellness awareness. Furthermore, they suggest the implementation of a unified EU-wide approval process for dietary supplements, including botanicals, to ensure supplement safety, accurate labeling, and compliance with health claims, thereby bolstering public nutrition knowledge.
