Food supplements are concentrates of nutrients, minerals, vitamins and herbs that enrich our diet. Many people are turning to alternatives to traditional medicine. For them, supplements help to maintain good health and reduce illness. Today, around 20% of French people consume food supplements on a regular basis. The food supplement market is currently worth over 1.9 billion euros. It’s a highly profitable industry for manufacturers. Unfortunately, scams are legion, and finding the right dietary supplement can be an obstacle course. In this article, we explain how to choose the perfect dietary supplement.
1-Place of manufacture
The first way to avoid scams is to check where the supplement is produced. Unlike the USA or China, where legislation is a little less stringent,Europe is making every effort to control the production of supplements.
Here, dietary supplements are considered to be foodstuffs. They are not medicines, and are therefore sold without a prescription. Decree no. 2006-352 lists all the vitamins, minerals and herbs authorized for use in food supplements produced in Europe.
Labelling requires manufacturers to list precisely the ingredients contained in each capsule, together with the recommended daily dose and a reminder that dietary supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet. Moreover, the law limits the dosage of each capsule to a maximum of 100% of daily intake.
In addition to European legislation, France has decided to tighten production requirements . Manufacturers are obliged to include the current thresholds and warnings on their labels.
Food supplements produced in Europe protect consumers from the risk of overdosing.
2-The ingredients
Although dietary supplements are subject to high quality standards that guarantee safety, it is important to understand their composition.
Take the time to find out about the origin and quality of the ingredients.
You’ll need to do a bit of research into purity and dosage before you buy.
For example, a tin may boast the benefits of an active ingredient and display its image large on the label, but containan insignificant dosage that is ineffective on your health.
In addition to dosage, pay attention to the chemical form of the active ingredient and its bioavailability. In other words, in what form is the ingredient present, and will it be readily assimilated by the body?
At Santé Safran. We include the whole saffron plant in each of our dietary supplements, so you can reap all the benefits.
3-Certifications
Certification proves to the consumer that the manufacturer complies with safety standards that exceed the law. It provides a significant guarantee of quality . Supplement brands are under no obligation to be certified, so this approach is proof of seriousness on their part.
However, as the dietary supplement market is very lucrative, we recommend that you pay particular attention to false certifications: labels or banners that do not refer to any authoritative body.
To make things easier for you, here are the certifications to remember when you buy your next box of food supplements:
– HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) is a working method developed in the 60s and subsequently adopted by international health organizations. It is based on 7 safety principles which guarantee that the consumer is not exposed to any food risks.
– ISO 22 000 is an international food standard applicable to the entire food industry. Its main mission is to ensure continuous improvement, hygiene and quality of foodstuffs. This standard controls all participants in the food chain, not just the end-user.
– GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices ). Mainly used for pharmaceutical products, this certification can also be applied to certain food supplements. It proves that they have been manufactured on a pharmaceutical site.
Finally, brands are increasingly developing their own certification. At first glance, this may seem like a simple marketing ploy, but it’s also a way of respecting a precise quality charter.
4-Packaging
It’s all very well to have enough active ingredients. But they also need to be properly packaged and protected from spoilage. Minerals are particularly sensitive and at risk of oxidation.
The manufacturer of dietary supplements must provide a quality container that is thick, opaque and sealed to prevent oxygen from entering.
Make sure these packages contain no endocrine disruptors or harmful products such as Bisphenol A or phthalates.
Finally, antioxidants or other ingredients may be added to protect the active ingredient from deterioration.
In Brief
To choose the perfect food supplement:
– check the source of the active ingredient by choosing a European or French supplement – educate yourself about the dosage and bioavailability of the active ingredient
– analyze the various certifications that may or may not be present on the packaging
– choose opaque, solid, sealed packaging
We hope this detailed article will help you choose the perfect food supplement to enhance your health. Santé Safran offers organic and French food supplements that respect the planet and, above all, your health. Discover our range of products today.
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