Stiftung Warentest study: Vitamin gummies with side effects
According to the study, 17 of the 18 products tested, which contain, for example, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, or iron, had deficiencies. The most common: The contained dose of vitamins or minerals exceeded the recommended guideline values, in some cases even those for adults. "The overall result is quite alarming," says Holger Brackemann of Stiftung Warentest.
Dietary supplements fall under the category of food. Therefore, there is no regulatory approval, nor are there binding specifications for the dosage of the active ingredients. Stiftung Warentest therefore based its study on scientific recommendations from sources such as the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) . For example, vitamin A is often found in multivitamin preparations. Stiftung Warentest found more vitamin A in four of the products tested than the BfR recommends for children; in some cases, the dosage was double the adult dose.
In addition, according to the BfR, both adults and children already reach or exceed the recommended intake of vitamin A. "Manufacturers sell superfluous products at high prices," Brackemann criticizes. He calls it a "business preying on the fear and anxiety of parents," who fear that their children might be deficient. A vitamin A overdose can lead to headaches and damage the skin and liver, among other things.
Particularly problematic: "The products often come in a shape that resembles candy," says Brackemann. Bear shapes are particularly common, but there are also small cars or sweet juices. The expert therefore warns: "There's a risk that children will mistake the products for candy and consume too much of them."
Stiftung Warentest is now calling for binding legal requirements for maximum quantities. Other experts also see shortcomings: "Stiftung Warentest's findings make it clear: The current legal regulations are insufficient. An approval procedure for food supplements is needed," says Sabrina Göddertz, food expert at the German Consumer Organization Association (vzbv).
A Forsa survey commissioned by the vzbv last October found that more than half of consumers felt very or rather poorly informed about the potential health risks of dietary supplements.
"Child-friendly forms like fruit gums are offered in this form primarily to increase acceptance among children," says Antje Preußker of the German Food Association, defending the practice. Food supplements can be "a useful addition" to a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
However, Nicole Merbach of Stiftung Warentest advises against a blanket dose. Children in this country are generally well supplied with vitamins and minerals. If a deficiency is suspected, a pediatrician can determine whether there is a deficiency through a blood test. A healthier menu can be made, she says, by regularly offering vegetables in different forms—raw, cooked, or hidden in pureed form. Especially with lunch boxes for school or daycare, it helps to involve children in the filling process. And sometimes just a different word can work wonders: If the whole-grain bread is called a sandwich, it immediately resonates better.
taz
