ANTIOXIDANTS, THE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DIRECTIVE AND CONSUMER CHOICE

That this House deplores recent inflammatory media coverage of food supplements containing anti-oxidants; notes that the study by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is a rewrite of one published in 2007 and already criticised by experts for selective use of available data focusing on studies of sick populations often using dosages much higher than those sold in the United Kingdom; further notes that millions of people have taken food supplements over many years with demonstrable improvements in health outcomes; welcomes the Government's proportionate, science-based approach to the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in supplements; and encourages Ministers to ensure that the implementation of the Food Supplements Directive does not lead to consumers being denied access to safe and popular higher potency vitamin and mineral supplements.