[The assessment of dietary supplements from the perspective of food control authorities in Schleswig-Holstein].

Abstract

Food supplements serve to provide people with additional nutrients, primarily vitamins and minerals. Currently, numerous food supplements are coming onto the market that do not comply with legal requirements and are advertised with unsubstantiated health claims. Since the Food Supplements Regulation (NemV) came into force in 2004, the Landeslabor Schleswig-Holstein has been responsible for testing and assessing food supplements and acts as a competence centre within the North German Cooperation.This article summarises the organisation of food supplement monitoring using Schleswig-Holstein as an example and then discusses the legal requirements. Particular emphasis is placed on the need to set maximum quantities and on the regulation of botanicals. The distinction between medicinal products and novel foods is also explained. Finally, the article takes a closer look at unauthorised health claims on products for advertising purposes.In practice, despite existing legal requirements, there is a need for further regulation. Legal disputes could be avoided if distributors of food supplements consistently complied with the legal requirements that serve to protect consumers from health risks.