Regulations and Legislation Regarding Addition as Vitamin

The Food and Drug Adminstration of the United States (FDA) approves 1 mg a-tocopherol (1.5 IU vitamin E) to be added to 100 kcal of food. Guidelines for the use of vitamin supplements emphasize that healthy individuals can and should obtain adequate amounts of all nutrients from a well-balanced diet. Only certain circumstances warrant the use of vitamin supplements, i.e., by individuals with very low caloric intakes and patients with diseases or medications that may interfere with the utilization of vitamins (Combs, 1998). 

According to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA, 1993), it is optional to give information about the contents of tocopherols and tocotrienols in food labeling in the United States. If given, the contents should be compared with the Reference Daily Intakes (RDI) for vitamin E of 20 mg a-tocopherol equivalents (30 IU)/day. In Europe, only significant quantities of vitamins can be declared. This 

There is worldwide confusion about the regulations on natural products and dialogue between countries for harmonization is needed. This is important for both the consumers and the developers and producers of new products. Some general regulations exist in the United States, Canada and Europe, where health claims permitted are generic and not product-specific. Products that claim benefits in the prevention or treatment of disease or illness are considered drugs or medicinal products and not foods (Stephen, 1998). This trend may, however, change with the renewed interest in functional foods and alternative medicine. 

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