Food supplements

Background 

Food supplements in the form of gummies are all the rage. Whether vitamins, minerals, or plant extracts – the combination of tasty sweets and nutritious supplements appeals to both young and old. This dosage form is perfect for people on the go, as it can be consumed without water, and for those (mostly children) who cannot swallow tablets or capsules. But be prepared – new trends are also in the focus of food control authorities.

Strategic evaluation

Many factors have to be taken into consideration before food supplements that are safe (for children) can be brought onto the market. Certain vitamins accumulate in the body and can pose a risk, especially for children with a lower body weight. Food supplements for children are frequently the subjects of criticism by authorities and competition associations because colourful packaging and typical confectionery forms, such as jelly sweets or gummy bear, can easily lead to consumption of more than the recommended quantities. Numerous special aspects relating to composition, quality inspection/testing and claims/labelling must therefore be taken into account when developing and routinely producing such products for children.

Our service – Analysis

The nature and quantity of vitamins, minerals and other value-adding ingredients must be appropriate, expedient and safe to serve as supplements for the respective age group. The declared vitamin or mineral content must be within the tolerances laid down in the guidance document^[1] of nutrient tolerances. In its capacity as a specialised service laboratory, PhotoLab has many years of expertise and a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance methods at its disposal for quantitative determination of declared ingredients, such as minerals, vitamins, plant extracts and other substances (e.g. melatonin) in complex polymer matrices such as jelly sweets. Our well-established methodological expertise, validated analytical procedures and state-of-the-art equipment systems guarantee precise, reproducible and standard-compliant results.

Our service – Regulatory Affairs

The designations and appearances of the jelly sweets, and the way in which they are distinguished from gummy bears in terms of sweets and confectionary, are decisive when it comes to the marketability of a food supplement. Legal requirements concerning food supplements are laid down in various regulations, but are also concealed in expert opinions and recommendations. We keep an eye on the legal developments and advise you on labelling requirements, dosages and the various ingredients (from A for ashwagandha to Z for zinc).

Your contacts at PhytoLab:

Analysis:

JÜRGEN ENGERT
Phone +49 9163 88-5538
juergen.engert@phytolab.de

Regulatory Affairs:

ANKE STEUBER
Phone +49 9163 88-446
anke.steuber@phytolab.de

Sales:

MARTIN MÜLLER
Phone +49 9163 88-5534
sales@phytolab.de