• Watered-Down Vitamin & Mineral Standard Up For Vote

    Posted May 31, 2013: by Bill Sardi

    A newly proposed recommendation by a world standards organization (CODEX) could reduce the amount of eleven essential vitamins by 20-to-60 percent compared to the currently used Recommended Daily Value.  This standard would then be widely affixed to food and dietary supplement labels to inform consumers whether they are consuming adequate amounts of nutrients to meet their needs.

    The newly proposed recommendations would reduce the daily requirement for vitamin C from 60 to 45 milligrams, zinc from15 to 12 milligrams,  of vitamin B12 to 6 to 2 milligrams and vitamin D from 10 micrograms (400 units) to 5 micrograms (200 units).  In all, the daily recommendation for eleven of 14 essential nutrients would be reduced, and none increased.

    The CODEX ALIMENTARIUS, a worldwide body established by the Food & Agriculture Organization of The United Nations and the World Health Organization to develop international food standards and guidelines to “ensure fair practices in the food trade,” meets in Rome in early July to consider the newly proposed guidelines.  Advocates for the newly proposed changes are gauging whether this proposal has sufficient support to build consensus before bringing it up for a vote.

    CODEX’s 186 delegates representing countries from around the world are likely to be straw polled on this issue before a formal vote, which come at a later CODEX meeting in Germany this year.

    Heading up opposition to the proposed changes in nutrient requirements is the National Health Federation (NHF) based in Monrovia, California.

    Scott Tips, NHF President, will deliver a presentation at the CODEX meeting to plead with delegates to dismiss the newly proposed recommendations on the basis they are being promoted solely with the interests of multinational businesses in mind.

    For example, under the “harmonization” plan proposed by CODEX, multivitamin companies need only make one version of their products to market them worldwide rather than a different product for every country.

    The NHF opposes one-dose-fits-all vitamin pills because it says geographic, genetic, dietary and environmental factors alter the amount of nutrients required to maintain health in certain human populations.

    A more detailed critique of the proposed CODEX recommendations has been written by health journalist Bill Sardi as commissioned by the NHF.  The entire critique can be read online.  Sardi has written the US delegate to CODEX in the past, opposing passage of similar guidelines.  He has been an outspoken critic of CODEX.

    Sardi says, while there are many health freedom organizations worldwide that oppose CODEX, the only one that has standing at the CODEX meetings is the National Health Federation.  “Support for other organizations only dilutes the support NHF needs to apply public pressure on decisions that affect public health,” he says.  The NHF has a presence in 21 countries worldwide.

    CODEX has drawn the ire of health freedom advocates in the past.  There is a concern that CODEX solely serves the needs of big business and that it is a conduit for disease mongering by establishment of nutrient recommendations that lock in in a certain level of disease in human populations that then requires more doctoring and drugs.

    For more information contact the National Health Federation.

    Proposed Changes In Recommended Daily Dietary IntakeOf Essential Vitamins & Minerals

    CODEX (World Health Organization/Food & Agriculture Organization of The United Nations) versus Daily Value/Reference Daily Intake
    NUTRIENT Proposed
    Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) -CODEX    		 100% Daily Value
    (what is listed on dietary supplement labels)
    based on RDI
    (Reference Daily Intake)    		 Difference
    Thiamin (Vitamin B1) 1.2 mg 1.5 mg -20%
    Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 1.2 mg 1.7 mg -30%
    Niacin (Vitamin B3) 15 mg 20 mg -25%
    Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) 1.3 mg 2.0 mg -35%
    Folic acid (Vitamin B9) 400 mcg 400 mcg No change
    Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) 2.0 mcg 6.0 mcg -66%
    Vitamin A 550 mcg (1833 IU) 1500 mcg (5000 IU) -64%
    Vitamin C 45 mg 60 mg -25%
    Vitamin D 200 IU (5 mcg) 400 IU (10 mcg) -50%
    Calcium 1000 mg 1000 mg No change
    Iodine 150 mcg 150 mcg No change
    Iron 14 mg 18 mg -22%
    Magnesium 240 mg 400 mg -40%
    Zinc 12 mg 15 mg -20%
    IU = international units
    Mg = milligrams
    Mcg = micrograms    		 Source: CODEX NRVs CCNFSDU PWG Discussion Paper RDI -Reference Daily Intake
    Source: Nutribase.com

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