MEDIA RELEASE

2 May 2007

Tighter regulations needed for dietary supplements

Omega-3 fish oils are beneficial for health. But a Consumer test found you don’t always get the real oil in quality and potency.

Consumer tested 29 fish oil and fish oil combination supplements. Four products were oxidised above acceptable levels and three of these products were well within their best-before dates. Five products didn’t contain the levels of omega-3 stated on the label.

“Our test highlights that New Zealand needs to have more stringent regulations for dietary supplements. The regulations require proper labelling, but there’s no register of products and no auditing of a manufacturer’s processes,” says Consumer research writer Belinda Allan.

Parliament is considering the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill, which will harmonise our regulations with the stricter Australian regime. Across the Tasman, dietary supplements must meet appropriate standards of safety and quality. All products must be registered and manufacturers licensed.

“We support the proposal to ensure consumers have access to quality and safe products,” says Ms Allan.

The latest issue of Consumer also examines the health benefits of omega-3s, recommended intakes and how you can get your omega-3s from real food.

A full copy of the article is available from: www.consumer.org.nz  

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