Latest news with #Regulations2003
Agriland
27-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
HSENI inspectors to visit food production premises
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has announced a new programme of focused advisory and inspection visits across the agri-food sector as part of its healthier workplaces campaign. David Lowe, acting principal inspector of HSENI's Agriculture and Food Group, said that inspectors will be visiting food production premises 'to help ensure business are protecting their workforce from long-term health problems'. 'Employers have a duty to make sure their workers are safe and healthy, especially when dealing with substances that can damage their lungs, including chemicals and grain or flour dust,' he said. HSENI Over the next year, HSNI inspectors will be visiting agriculture and food production premises in Northern Ireland to ensure hazardous substances are being handled properly and that appropriate safety measures are in place. 'They will focus on how employers manage hazardous substances in the workplace and comply with their legal duties under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (NI) Regulations 2003 (COSHH). 'They will also be looking more specifically at those substances which have been assigned a workplace exposure limit (WEL), which cause known health effects and where health surveillance may be required,' Lowe added. HSENI confirmed that there will be a mixture of announced and unannounced inspections. Duty holders are reminded that they have very specific responsibilities under COSHH, and they must ensure they are familiar with the regulations and complying with them fully. 'Occupational respiratory diseases are all too common, but they are also preventable. No one should develop ill health simply because of the job they do. 'If anyone has concerns about their lung health they should speak to their GP,' Lowe said. Occupational lung disease symptoms include a persistent cough, as well as severe difficulties in breathing, chest tightness and coughing up blood. Symptoms can often be painful and debilitating, affecting the person's way of life and in severe cases can prevent sufferers from leading a normal lifestyle. To help businesses prepare for visits, HSENI has created a checklist that outlines what inspectors will be looking for, which is available on the executive's website.
Telegraph
09-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Are expensive supplements worth the money?
There have never been more supplements on the supermarket shelves, or in our kitchen cupboards, as millions of us strive for better health and hope to achieve it through consuming a pill or powder. Around two-thirds of adults in the UK take some form of supplement – that's the equivalent of 81 million supplements a day. Made by isolating nutrients from plants and animals, whether we're looking for improved immunity, increased energy or better sleep, it's easy to treat supplements as medicines. But they're not, and they're not regulated like medicines either. In the UK, food supplements are regulated under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, which align with EU and UK food laws. They must comply with general food safety legislation and cannot make misleading health claims. But, unlike medicines, supplements are not as strictly regulated and do not undergo the same rigorous testing. So while most supplements should be safe, whether or not they do what they say on the tin is another question. The fact that what's available online might be from abroad and outside UK and EU rules, alongside the statistic that four in five consumers never check the ingredients label anyway, and you might be wondering just how to tell if that pricey supplement you picked up is going to do you any good at all… Does price make a difference? How do I know what supplements I should take? How do I choose a high quality supplement? Are pills, gummies, sprays or lotions the best way to take supplements? What should I avoid in a supplement? What fillers are used in supplements and are they bad for me? Does price make a difference? First things first – are pricey supplements the answer? The marketing of some luxury supplements – think Lyma, where a 30-day supply of their signature supplement aimed at improving sleep, lowering stress and increasing skin and hair health costs £199 – suggests more money spent means a more effective supplement. But prices for what seem to be the same product can vary wildly. Take magnesium as an example. At Holland & Barrett, a bottle of 30 tablets containing 375mg per tablet costs £3.99, or 13p per tablet. If you choose Inessa Magnesium, you'll get 60 capsules containing 153mg per capsule for £24.99 – working out at around 42p per tablet, for less than half the dose. These pills both contain slightly different combinations of types and sources of magnesium, so it depends on what you're looking for, and while sometimes, price point does indicate a better product, this is not always the case, insist the experts. 'Marketing plays a massive role in supplement pricing,' says Nichola Ludlam-Raine a registered specialist dietitian. 'This can create a perception that they are far superior to cheaper alternatives, even if the core ingredients are the same. 'In many cases, high street own-brand supplements can be just as effective as premium supplement brands. The key factors to consider are the ingredients, dosages, and third-party testing rather than branding alone. I often suggest my patients choose supermarket own brand supplements.' What are you paying for when you buy more expensive supplements? When you buy premium supplements, you're often paying for branding and marketing. 'Luxury supplement brands invest heavily in high-end packaging, influencer partnerships, and advertising.' These, of course, make no difference to how good the product is. But there are other reasons too. 'Some premium brands use patented or trademarked versions of vitamins and minerals,' explains Ludlam-Raine, which may have enhanced bioavailability (better absorption) or research backing, and are therefore worthwhile. 'High-end brands may combine multiple beneficial ingredients into one formula, such as added adaptogens, nootropics, or probiotics, which could be worth paying extra for, if you want them.' She explains: 'Some premium brands undergo more rigorous third-party testing to ensure purity, potency, and absence of contaminants.' But as with any supplement, you must check if this is the case – don't assume that the price point means these tests have been done. 'If a high-street supplement has the same form and dosage of an active ingredient as a luxury brand, it can be just as effective,' says Ludlam-Raine. 'Ultimately, it's important to read labels, check dosages, and choose reputable brands rather than relying solely on price as an indicator of quality.' How do I know what supplements I should take? 'The NHS recommends most people should get their nutrients from food, but some groups may need supplements, including those where a health care professional has said that there is a deficiency – which can be determined via a blood test,''explains Ludlam-Raine. Ludlam-Raine recommends following the NHS advice on vitamin D, folic acid, calcium, vitamin B12, iodine, iron, and omega-3 in particular. Vitamin D Everyone should supplement with vitamin D daily during the winter months (taking 10mcg/400IU from October to March), or all year round if you are: pregnant or breastfeeding, over 65, have darker skin or spend very little time outdoors. Folic acid If you are pregnant, have diabetes, a BMI over 30, or take certain epilepsy medications, you should supplement with folic acid. Take 5mg daily at least three months before pregnancy and for the first 12 weeks to prevent neural tube defects, or take 5mg daily if you belong to any of the other groups mentioned. Vitamin B12, calcium, iron, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids Vegans and those who avoid animal products may want to consider taking a supplement that provides these nutrients, which are not available from non-animal products. If you're unsure, speak to a GP, pharmacist, or registered dietitian before taking supplements How to choose a high quality supplement 1. Look for a clear ingredient list 'The ingredients list should be transparent and detailed,' says Dr Amos Ogunkoya, a GP and sports and exercise medic. It should include the specific form of the vitamins and minerals included, as well as the amount. (For example, if your supplement contains vitamin A as beta-carotene, that is safe in pregnancy – whereas vitamin A in the form of retinol is not, points out Ludlam-Raine.) 2. Check the dose is correct 'Staying with the NHS guidance on upper limits is key,' says Ludlam-Raine. The recommended limits are listed on their website. Equally, check if there is actually a reasonable amount of your recommended daily allowance in the supplement, says Dr Ogunkoya – something might highlight a certain popular vitamin or mineral on the front of the packet but contain a relatively small amount, he warns. 3. Choose an evidence-based formulation This means its claims have been third-party tested or the dosage matches what's proven in clinical studies, advises Dr Ogunkoya, as well as that the nutrients are present in their most bioavailable form, says Ludlam-Raine. 'For example, there are two forms of vitamin D available in supplements: D3 and D2. Both can help correct vitamin D deficiency, but most doctors recommend D3 because it is slightly more active and therefore slightly more effective,' she says. 4. Check the certificate of analysis of the products This means it has been lab-tested to prove that it meets the criteria advertised on the ingredients list. It should be on the supplement website – if not, email and ask about it, says Dr Ogunkoya. 5. Look for a mark of regulation In the UK, look for products registered with the Food Standard Agency, says Ludlam-Raine, or the very few registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Another worthwhile thing to look at is whether it has an Informed Sport logo, which assures professional athletes that the product is regularly tested for banned substances as well as meeting top-quality standards, says Dr Ogunkoya, who also works with an app called SafeSupp which allows consumers to scan supplement labels to assess the quality of their ingredients. Also look for: 6. Absorption-enhancing combinations Some vitamins and minerals enhance each other, while others reduce absorption, says Ludlam-Raine. So good combined products to look for include vitamin D and calcium (vitamin D aids calcium absorption); vitamin C and iron (vitamin C boosts iron absorption, especially if the iron is from a plant-based source); and magnesium and vitamin D (magnesium helps activate vitamin D in the body). 7. Money-back guarantees 'You'll find trustworthy brands stand behind their products,' says Dr Ogunkoya. 'They don't want to lose money, so offering a guarantee on a supplement should show they are confident it will be effective, and safe.' Are pills, gummies, sprays or lotions the best way to take supplements? As well as a huge variety of supplements on the market, there is an ever-widening and increasingly inventive array of forms they come in. Whether you prefer to take them as pills, capsules, sprays, or gummies – all can be effective, but some are better absorbed than others, says Ludlam-Raine: Sprays are good for vitamin D (absorbed via the mouth). Gummies may contain added sugars and fewer active ingredients. Capsules can be easier to swallow than tablets. Patches and skin creams are generally less reliable for nutrient absorption. What should I avoid in a supplement? 1. Avoid 'megadoses' You can have too much of a good thing. 'Some vitamins (A, D, E, K) are fat-soluble and can build up in the body, leading to toxicity,' says Ludlam-Raine. 'Excess iron should also be avoided unless prescribed.' 2. Watch out for proprietary blends These are combined supplements where the exact nutrient amounts aren't listed. It's a bit like KFC's secret blend of herbs and spices, but what the colonel does to stop competitors copying his flavour may, when it comes to supplements, be done to 'hide' what's actually in the supplement and use cheaper ingredients and less beneficial doses, says Dr Ogunkoya. 3. Poor bioavailability 'Some cheap brands use forms of vitamins that aren't well absorbed, because it costs less,' says Ludlam-Raine. See vitamin D, above. Or in the case of calcium: 'Calcium citrate is better absorbed than calcium carbonate by approximately 22 to 27 per cent.' 4. Combinations that cancel each other out For example, iron and calcium. Calcium blocks iron absorption, so take them separately at different times, says Ludlam-Raine. 'If taking multiple supplements, space them out throughout the day to increase absorption or check with a healthcare professional.' 5. Avoid 'filler' ingredients These are often found in cheaper supplements to pad out to mix. Examples include maltodextrin, a type of artificial sugar, and guar gum, a thickening agent made from guar beans. What fillers are used in supplements, and are they bad for me? 'Fillers are added to supplements to help with stability, absorption, or to bulk out the tablet. In general, small amounts of additives are not harmful to health in the context of a healthy diet,' says Ludlam-Raine. However, they don't add anything beneficial – and in some cases, taken in excess, can cause side effects, says Dr Ogunkoya. So how do you recognise a filler? Look out for names such as magnesium stearate (a salt which in high amounts can have laxative effects and impact nutrient absorption), silicon dioxide (a compound of silicon and oxygen, little crystals of which are used as an anti-caking agent), maltodextrin (a binder and artificial sugar which can have a negative influence on the gut microbiome), guar gum (a thickener made from gel-forming fibres within guar beans) and more.
