§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the number of recorded deaths from adverse reactions to peanuts for the latest year for which figures are available; what was the number of deaths attributed solely to vitamin B6 supplements for that year; and what quantity of peanuts would be available (a) on general sale; (b) from a pharmacy; and (c) on prescription from a general medical practitioner if restrictions on the sale of peanuts comparable to those proposed for vitamin B6 were applied.
§ Lord DonoughueThere are no reliable data on the number of deaths from food allergies or as a result of the consumption of food supplements. However, reports from coroners' courts suggest that there have been two or three deaths from peanut allergy so far this year. We are not aware of any deaths this year attributable to the consumption of food supplements that contain only vitamin B6.
The proposed maximum limits on the level of vitamin B6 in food supplements and in products licensed as medicines available from pharmacies and on prescription were based on evidence which showed the lowest dose to have adverse effects in humans to be 50mg per day. Because peanut allergies only affect a small proportion of the population it is not possible to relate dose and effect across the population or to make calculations equivalent to those used in the consideration of vitamin B6.