Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)
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253. To ask the Minister for Health the Departmental analysis of vitamin and mineral supplements that is being carried out to determine recommended daily amounts vis-à-vis the "typical" nutrition content of Irish diets, in advance of any European Union limit setting of nutrients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52320/26]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Thank-you for your query. I note the concerns which you have raised in your submission.

Maximum Amounts (MAs) are limits set on the amount of each vitamin and mineral in food supplements and fortified foods. The purpose of setting MAs is to ensure the safety of consumers.

National consumption surveys are conducted by the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA) and provide detailed information on the dietary intake and health status of the Irish population from 1 to 90 years These surveys have been jointly funded by the Department of Health and mainly through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) competitive research funding programmes. National consumption surveys provide information on food and beverage intake of the population and intakes of energy, dietary fibre and nutrients of the Irish population.

The legal provisions for setting MAs for fortified foods and food supplements are Article 5 of Directive 2002/46/EC and Article 6 of Regulation (EC) 1925/2006 respectively. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Scientific Committee previously gave advice with regards to setting maximum amounts

The approach proposed by the European Commission is in line with this advice. Values will be set based on the most up-to-date scientific data, standard model of calculation and on a case-by-case basis.

Work resumed at setting MAs by the European Commission in 2021. In 2025, the Commission met with several EU level industry groups and next steps include a call for evidence by the Commission. All interested parties are encouraged to submit any commentary on the MAs once this call is launched.