Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content

Addition of Nutrients to Food Task Force

Background

This task force has evolved within the context of the EC regulations on fortification of foods and the need to measure the impact of adding nutrients to food on the population. Currently, in Europe, there is considerable focus on micronutrients. The task force has responded to this by looking at both high and low intakes of specific micronutrients, and the impact these could have on certain European populations.
 

Objectives

Dietary surveys across Europe indicate a wide range of intakes from micronutrients across countries and within several subgroups of the population. Clarity on these intakes from a European perspective is needed

As a consequence, this task force has commissioned different expert groups that aim to:

  • Map low and high micronutrient intake across Europe;
  • Review the diverse methodologies for dietary intakes;
  • Consider the importance for micronutrient status of factors such as bioavailability, fortification (voluntary/mandatory);
  • Identify biomarkers for micronutrient status;
  • Undertake horizon scanning for micronutrients of emerging interest, for example, vitamins D and K;
  • Collaborate with all relevant partners.

​Impact

The task force developed a new and innovative method to facilitate setting mandatory maximum levels in food fortification and supplements, now under serious consideration by the EC. As a follow-up to this, a new activity has been initiated to map the extent of micronutrient deficiencies across Europe in different population subgroups and countries. Subsequently, it will review and recommend methodologies for estimating micronutrient intakes, with particular regard to base diet, fortified foods and dietary supplements.
 
Various stakeholders, including the European Commission and its Member States, showed a particular interest in the outcome of these activities for establishing a general methodology to collect micronutrient intakes across Europe. The paper ‘Intake of selected nutrients from foods, from fortification and from supplements in various European countries’ with a focus on high intakes was published as supplement in Food and Nutrition Research, in 2009.
 

Activities

Is there a Need for Specific Reference Values for Vitamin K2?

Vitamin K is essential for the functioning of several proteins involved in blood clotting, because it is needed for the posttranslational modification of those proteins.
 
For decades, it was believed that this is the sole function of vitamin K, but more recently a number of other vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs) have been discovered. In addition to blood, they occur in a wide variety of tissues (e.g.: bone, dentin, vessel wall, neural tissue), body fluids (e.g. urine, semen, lung surfactant) and pathological structures (e.g.: renal stones, atherosclerothic plaques), and the regulation of the biological activity of these proteins depends on vitamin K intake.
 
Based on new biomarkers of vitamin K status, the majority of both children and adults are probably vitamin K insufficient. This may have a negative impact on bone and vascular health.
Although the Dietary Reference Value (DRV) of vitamin K is adequate to maintain normal blood clotting and thus avoid classical vitamin K deficiency symptoms, this may not be the case to reduce the risk for osteoporosis and atherocalcification.
 
To reduce these risks, a separate DRV for vitamin K2 would be recommended.
When the Dietary Reference Value (DRV) is increased, the minimum enrichment levels in food products to claim ‘source of’ or ‘rich in’ vitamin K are increased. Higher levels of vitamin K in food products will contribute to the prevention of sub-clinical vitamin K deficiency.
 
The main objectives of this new activity are to:
  • To identify whether it is possible to identify a DRV [Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), adequate Intakes (AI) and tolerable upper intake level (UL)] for vitamin K2;
  • Identify gaps in current knowledge to identify future directions of research (general and specific) that contribute to insight on intakes and issues related to vitamin K2 intake in vulnerable population groups.
The outcome of this project will be presented as a paper in a peer-reviewed journal.
 
This Expert Group is a joint effort with the Nutrient Requirements Task Force that will also contribute to the transversal activity on marker validation.

Mapping Low Micronutrient Intake across Europe

An expert group is currently analysing low intake of micronutrient across Europe. The objectives are to:
  • Compile data on the extent of low micronutrient intakes in Europe, and the associated risk to health in population subgroups to map low intake of micronutrient across Europe;
  • Review the limitations of the collected data and provide recommendations;
  • Summarise the strength and weaknesses of current methodologies to collect micronutrient intake data;
  • Collaborate and identify synergies with related activities, in particular with the EURRECA Network of Excellence.
 
The outcome of this activity will assist researchers to critically evaluate intake data. It will be published in a scientific journal.
Concurrently, in view of a follow-up activity, the expert group will provide best practice recommendations for the methodology used for monitoring micronutrients intake. The aim is to:
  • Review the characteristics of the different methods which can be used in food intake surveys;
  • Define the best methodological practices to take into consideration when designing a survey on micronutrients intake.

Members - 2012 

Mr. Reg Fletcher - Chair -
Kellogg Europe
IE
​Dr. Ellen van den Heuvel - Vice-Chair - ​FrieslandCampina ​NL
 
 
Dr. Jean-Michel Antoine
Danone
FR
Mr. Edouard Casala
Bunge Europe
BE
Ms. Yvette Azzopardi*
European Commission - DG Sanco
BE
Dr. Simon Champ
BASF SE
DE
Dr. Suzanne Kettler
Coca-Cola Europe
BE
Dr. Karlheinz Niederreiter
Red Bull
AT
Dr. Szabolcs Peter
DSM
CH
​Dr. Sigrid Röchter BASF SE​ ​DE
 
 
 
Ms. Athanasia Baka
ILSI Europe
BE
Ms. Belinda Antonio
ILSI Europe
BE

*observer
Expert Group on Is there a Need for Specific Reference Values for Vitamin K2? 

Dr. Cees Vermeer - Chair -
Maastricht University
NL
Dr. Joline Beulens
University of Utrecht
NL
Dr. Sarah Booth
Tufts University
US
Ms. Marjolein Bragt
Royal FrieslandCampina
BE
Dr. Elisabeth Stoecklin
DSM
CH
Dr. Ellen van den Heuvel
Royal FrieslandCampina
NL
 
 
 
Ms. Athanasia Baka
ILSI Europe
BE

Expert Group Mapping Low Micronutrient Intake across Europe

Mr. Reg Fletcher - Chair -
Kellogg Europe
IE
Prof. Mirjana Gurinovic
University of Belgrade
SRB
Dr. Inge Huybrechts
University of Ghent
BE
Dr. Susanne Kettler
Coca-Cola Europe
BE
Dr. Lionel Lafay
French Agency for Food, Environmental
and Occupational Health Safety - ANSES
FR
Dr. Alison Lennox
MRC Human Nutrition Research
UK
Dr. Gert Mensink
Robert Koch Institute
DE
Dr. Marga Ocké
National Institute for Public Health and
the Environment (RIVM)
NL
Dr. Szabolcs Peter
DSM
CH
Prof. Lluís Serra-Majem
University of Barcelona
ES
Prof. Lucjan Szponar/ Dr. Katarzyna Stos
National Food and Nutrition Institute
PL
Dr. Inge Tetens
Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute
DK
Dr. Ellen van den Heuvel
Royal FrieslandCampina
NL
 
 
 
Ms. Athanasia Baka
ILSI Europe
BE

 

Publications

S. J. Fairweather-Tait, L. J. Harvey, R. Hurrell and J. Boza, Guest Scientific Editors. Micronutrient Bioavailability: Priorities and Challenges for Setting Dietary Reference Values. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2010;91(Suppl.5):1413S-1491S.
 
 
 
A.G. Renwick, L.O. Dragsted, R.J. Fletcher et al. Minimising the Population Risk of Micronutrient Deficiency and Over-consumption: A New Approach Using Selenium as an Example. European Journal of Nutrition 2008;47(1):17-25.
 
A.G. Renwick, A. Flynn, R.J. Fletcher et al. Risk-Benefit Analysis of Micronutrients. Food and Chemical Toxicology 2004;42(12):1903-1922.
 
A. Flynn, O. Moreiras et al.Vitamins and Minerals: A Model for Safe Addition to Foods. European Journal of Nutrition 2003;42(2):118-130.
 
J.J. Strain, D. Barclay and J. Lambert.Addition of Nutrients to Food: Nutritional and Safety Considerations - Moving to a Scientific Consensus. ILSI Europe Report Series 1998:1-24.
 
To download the poster of the task force, click here.
 
For more information, please contact info@ilsieurope.be.
Addition of Nutrients to Food Task Force