Food supplements represent a special food category, defined as food ' the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which are concentrated sources of nutrients (i.e. vitamins and minerals) or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, marketed in dose form (e.g. pills, tablets, capsules, liquids in measured doses) designed to be taken in measured small unit quantities.’

ALS laboratories specialise in microbiological, chemical and physical analyses of foodsupplements. We can support you in determining active ingredients such as vitamins or minerals, nutritional parameters including fatty acids, contaminants such as heavy metals, mycotoxins, PAHs, dioxins or pesticides, allergens and/or additives. We also cover foods intended for special nutrition (e.g. baby food, sports nutrition, gluten-free nutrition).

Responsibility for the safety of these products lies with the food business operator placing the product on the market.

The Directive 2002/46/EC, on Food Supplements, introduces harmonised lists of the vitamins and minerals substances used in the manufacture of food supplements and the labelling requirements for these products. The use of substances other than vitamins or minerals may be governed by national rules or may be subject to other specific EU legislation such as the Regulation 2015/2283/EC on Novel Food; the Regulation 1925/2006/EC on Fortification of Foods, the Regulation 609/2013/EC on Foods for Specific Groups or the Regulation 1333/2008/EC on Food Additives.

Apart from the general requirements on food safety set by the Regulation 178/2002/EC, special attention is paid to labelling requirements (Regulation 1169/2011/EC) and the use of nutrition and health claims (Regulation 1924/2006/EC).  The maximum levels for residues and contaminants are set in the Regulation 1881/2006/EC.

ALS laboratories offer a wide scope of accredited analyses to accommodate the needs of food supplements and food for special dietary needs:

• Professional services based on many years of experience with the products
• Fast and accurate methods using modern instrumentation such as HPLC or ELISA
• Reliability and accuracy of results confirmed via Regular Proficiency Test evaluations.
• Evaluation of results according to client’s limits
• Online access to the results via our web-based platform - WebTrieve and Knowledge Base / Information Center
• User-friendly transport solution

We bring added value to our customers’ food quality and safety programs.

Food Supplement Safety and Quality Assurance leaflet to donwload.