From food surveillance to action on commercial determinants of health: the case of food supplements

Issue

The wide availability of food supplements, together with misinformation and unauthorized health claims, represents a growing public health challenge across countries. The role of social media as an advertising channel constitutes a commercial determinant of health, exposing young people as vulnerable population. Despite existing regulatory controls, there is a need for a risk communication policy that involves health professionals and civil society to promote informed and responsible consumption.

Description

A retrospective analysis of all European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications related to dietetic foods, food supplements and fortified foods (2020-2025) was conducted using RASFF Window data. The objective was to transform regulatory surveillance data into actionable public health information to be shared among medical care professionals, given their role as trusted intermediaries for health advice.

Results

This product category accounted for 7,4% of 28.441 notifications, with 72% involving potential health risks, indicating a disproportionate risk profile relative to the market size. The most frequent issues (45%) concerned unauthorized novel food ingredients under (EU) 2015/2283 Regulation, with more than 250 ingredients identified, mainly cannabidiol, alpha‑GPC and Yohimbe. Pharmacological, hormonal or psychoactive prohibited substances accounted for 15% of reports, mainly THC, sildenafil and sibutramine. Risks related to overdose represented 9%, with vitamin D supplements as the most frequent. Products marketed for weight loss, anxiety relief, or improved athletic or sexual performance are common.

Lessons

Regulatory surveillance systems generate relevant safety information that is insufficiently transferred, limiting their preventive potential. Using these data as a proactive health communication tool, rather than solely a market control mechanism, represents a relevant public health action for risk communication.

Key messages

• The role of social media as an advertising channel of food supplements constitutes a commercial determinant of health, exposing young people as vulnerable population.

• Regulatory surveillance systems generate relevant safety information which, used as a proactive health communication tool, represents a relevant public health action for risk communication.