Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior vice president at DSM Nutritional Products told Food Manufacture magazine that Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem across the EU, even in countries with otherwise good nutritional intakes. It can lead to weak bone structure and density, contributing to osteoporosis.
A good way of delivering vitamin D is through fortified milk products such as yogurt drinks and yet there are almost none available within the union, said Eggersdorfer, although one exception is in Scandinavia, where guidance is provided on recommended daily intakes for the vitamin.
UK intake too low
However, the average vitamin D intake in the UK remains below that recommended by the US Institute of Medicine (IoM) and in other studies on vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly and immigrants, said Eggersdorfer.
Ayela Spiro, senior nutrition scientist at the Dairy Council, said that while some examples of fortified milk products existed in Ireland, in the UK fortified products tend to be cereal-based. However there are growing calls for recommendations on vitamin D fortified products, she added.
Last March, the European Parliament discussed the impact of vitamin D deficiency. Following an increase in recommended daily allowances by the US IoM, Eggersdorfer is hopeful the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will make recommendations for the EU this year. This would lead to greater consumer demand for vitamin D fortified products.
DSM Nutritional Products has collaborated with the International Osteoporosis Foundation to create an interactive map highlighting vitamin D deficiency across the world as an educational tool for consumers and policymakers.