title: Food supplements and European regulation within a precautionary context: a critique and implications for nutritional, toxicological and regulatory consistency.
abstract: In this paper, we review European legislation in the field of micronutrient food supplements and find it wanting. It is shown that the precautionary principle, embedded in European food legislation, pre-empts innovative developments in this field. In view of the scientific advances in micronutrients research, we subsequently critique the precautionary perspective and propose a novel outlook on micronutrients food supplements regulation. However, this requires a transition from the "survival" approach of the current deficiency-related RDAs to a "health-optimization" approach of a n(ew)-RDA. Genomic integrity is central in this envisioned transition.
authors: HAN Research. hjaap@xs4all.nl
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Hanekamp
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bast
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000633:toxicity*; D005060:Europe; D023281:Genomics; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007881:Legislation, Food; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D018673:Nutrition Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients