Citation

Clausen A, Kraemer P, Schlueter K. Health Behav. Policy Rev. 2014; 1(4): 335-350.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Paris Scholar Publishing)

DOI

10.14485/HBPR.1.4.8

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purchase of food supplements on the Internet plays an increasingly important role for German consumers. These supplements are not regarded as actual foods, which they legally are, but rather, as drugs or a combination of both. This situation creates high expectations for consumers concerning potential results achievable through product use. However, not all advertised outcomes are reliable. It is not only the potential economic concerns but also the more important detrimental health effects caused by food supplements that are alarming public health officials in Germany.

METHOD: This paper reviews the various problem areas in Germany with respect to customs authorities, foodstuff control, consumer protection organizations, and reports of the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.

RESULTS: Potential health hazards result especially from undeclared prescription agents or non-approved pharmacological substances, insufficiently controlled botanicals, toxic heavy metals, and excessive pesticide residues.

CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to improve international monitoring and control of Internet trade in food supplements. Moreover, further consumer education about the dangers of Internet-purchased food supplements is required. Healthcare professionals must bear in mind that unusual or unexplained reactions, side effects, and interactions may be due to the ingestion of food supplements and they should ask explicitly for this information during patient examination and history-taking.

Language: en