Vitamin B6 (Hansard, 20 January 1997)

§ Mr. Hain
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by whom, and for what purpose, the Food Advisory Committee was asked to consider at its December meeting the use of vitamin B6, and if he will make a statement on the conclusions reached at that meeting. [11491]

§ Mrs. Browning
I asked the Department of Health's Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment—for advice on the toxicity of vitamin B6 in response to concerns expressed by the Consumers Association about the safety of dietary supplements containing high doses of vitamins and minerals. The COT's advice was passed to the Food Advisory Committee so that it could consider what action should be taken. The FAC endorsed the COT's conclusions and recommended that discussions be held with interested parties to explore the possibility of a voluntary limit on levels of vitamin B6 in dietary supplements. It also made it clear that it wishes to 481W consider this matter further in the light of those discussions and information about the market for high dose supplements.

§ Mr. Hain
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Food Advisory Committee and the committee on toxicity consulted Consumers for Health Choice and the Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy about the use of vitamin B6 prior to reaching conclusions on its safety. [11492]

§ Mrs. Browning
Neither the Food Advisory Committee nor the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment consulted Consumers for Health Choice or the Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy before reaching its conclusions on the safety of vitamin B6. However, the FAC has recommended that officials discuss the conclusions with interested parties.

§ Mr. Hain
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many adverse reactions as a result of vitamin B6 supplement in the United Kingdom were reported to his Department in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [11493]

§ Mrs. Browning
No arrangement exists for the reporting to this Department of adverse reactions to vitamin and mineral supplements. A report into the toxicological problems resulting from exposure to traditional medicines and food supplements commissioned by this Department did not reveal any cases of adverse reactions to vitamin B6 during the period. However, evidence of adverse reactions has been published in the scientific literature.