Risk analysis applied to food fortification
Open Access
- 1 June 2003
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Public Health Nutrition
- Vol. 6 (3), 281-290
- https://doi.org/10.1079/phn2002444
Abstract
To describe how a risk analysis can be applied to food fortification, with emphasis on voluntary fortification and intake levels that might exceed usual dietary levels. Use of the risk analysis model as a frame to classify nutrients according to the risk of exceeding upper safe intake levels. Furthermore, to apply the model when discussing possible consequences of liberal fortification practices on eating behaviour and disease patterns. The discussion on food fortification presently going on internationally. Micronutrients can be classified according to their safety margin, i.e. the size of the interval between the recommended intake and the upper safe level of intake. We suggest that nutrients with a small safety margin, i.e. for which the upper safe level is less than five times the recommended intake, be placed in a category A and should be handled with care (retinol, vitamin D, niacin, folate and all minerals). Category B comprises nutrients with an intermediate safety margin (vitamins E, B6, B12 and C), while nutrients that according to present knowledge are harmless even at 100 times the recommendation (vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and biotin) are categorised as C. The risk analysis model is a useful tool when assessing the risk of both too low and excess intakes of single micronutrients, but can also be applied to analyse the consequences of fortification practices on eating behaviour and disease patterns. Liberal fortification regulations may, for example, distort the conception of what is healthy food, and drive consumption towards a more unhealthy diet, contributing to the plague of overweight and concomitant increased risk of degenerative diseases. The impact of fortification practices on the total eating pattern of a population should become an integrated part of the discussions and regulations connected to the issue.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Liberal fortification of foods: the risks. A study relating to FinlandJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2002
- Comparison of stochastic modelling of the intakes of intentionally added flavouring substances with theoretical added maximum daily intakes (TAMDI) and maximized survey-derived daily intakes (MSDI)Food Additives & Contaminants, 2002
- Micronutrient interactions: effects on absorption and bioavailabilityBritish Journal of Nutrition, 2001
- Dietary Reference IntakesJournal of the American Dietetic Association, 2001
- Fortification of Foods with Folic Acid — How Much is Enough?New England Journal of Medicine, 2000
- An outbreak of hypervitaminosis D associated with the overfortification of milk from a home-delivery dairy.American Journal of Public Health, 1995
- Are we really fixing up the food supply?Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 1993
- Global Estimates for Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in AdultsDiabetes Care, 1993
- Reduced Erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Low Birth Weight Infants Given Iron SupplementsPediatric Research, 1991
- VITAMIN D AND CARDIOVASCULAR, RENAL, AND BRAIN DAMAGE IN INFANCY AND CHILDHOODAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1969