Nutrient Profiles
The European Commission has started developing its approach to nutrient profiles since 2008. Its intention is to put in place an EU-wide labelling scheme that shows the nutrient content of foods (i.e. nutrient profiles) to help educate consumers about healthy diets.
Background
According to the nutrient profiles system, a food with a ‘bad’ nutrient profile, e.g. containing too much fat, sugar or salt, should not be allowed to bear nutrition or health claims (for instance, ‘source of iodine’ or ‘iodine contributes to brain development’ or ‘high in Vitamin C’).
Maximum levels of vitamins and minerals
Regulation (EU) No 1925/2006 sets the regulatory framework for adding vitamins and minerals to foods, recognizing the importance of food fortification in the diet. Annex I to the Regulation lists the vitamins and minerals that may be added to food, including iodine. According to art. 6(1) the EC was to set maximum levels for authorized vitamins and minerals by 19 January 2009, to avoid adverse health effects due to overexposure. This measure, however, has been delayed consistently.
Impact on the iodine sector
Restrictions to nutrition and health claims on the basis of nutrient profiles would be highly detrimental to salt iodisation policies and to the fight against iodine deficiency in Europe.
Iodine is listed in Annex I to the Regulation (EU) No 1925/2006. Too low thresholds would threaten optimum iodine intake for individuals.
Should you wish to receive more detailed information about this topic, or specific applications of iodine within your sector, please feel free to contact the World Iodine Association
Address
Rue Belliard 40
1040, Brussels, Belgium