Journal Article

Dietary Supplements, a global Need for Regulations and Quality Control Requirements

Arhima, Mahmod, Drah, Aisha, Rbeida, Omar

2009

Overview

There is an increasing number of products imported to our community as foods containing concentrated sources of nutrients to supplement food needs, however, in many countries such products have, up to now, been not regulated by their national institutions of control, So far a few regulations and guidelines were established to facilitate the consumer choices through improved labeling requirements and efficient monitoring of food supplements on the market. In many cases, the product content is not standardized, therapeutic goals are vague, and evidence of efficacy and safety is absent or ambiguous. Although, from the historical background, a few guidelines and directives in this regard were presented, however, they are still under debate. A different definitions used worldwide that confusing between drugs and food, resulted in different categories, which have been classified with overlapping properties and goals. A strong harmonized legislations and rules starting from the manufacturer and ended by the consumers needs are mandatory to be implemented. In this review, the actual situation of the regulation of these products worldwide is presented, the different important issues of ensuring safety and efficiency are also focused. The proposal of taking in considerations, the health claims, labeling, risk assessment as well as the quality control requirements of food supplements in order to improve consumers uses were highlighted.

• Publisher: جامعة مصراتة
• Subject: الأغذية والصحة / الصناعات الغذائية / المكملات الغذائية