The European Commission is to introduce new legislation requiring food manufacturers to reveal all mineral and vitamin additives to their products and their quantities.
The regulations are aimed at protecting consumers by limiting the number and quantities of nutrients added to foods. Producers will also be obliged to label clearly which nutrients have been added.
To assist with drawing up the legislation the Commission has asked individual member states to engage in a consultation process. As part of this process the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today urged consumers to express their opinions about the voluntary addition of vitamins and minerals to foodstuffs.
The consultation period closes at the end of January when the FSAI will make its submission to the Commission on the issue.
Dr Pat O'Mahony, chief biotechnology specialist with the FSAI, said: "The additional labelling provisions in this regulation will give consumers the ability to choose whether to purchase nutritionally enhanced foods or not, while it will also safeguard consumers by allowing only safe nutrients to be added, at set limits".
The consultation document can be found on the FSAI website at: www.fasi.ie.
