Nowadays, various Vitamin products on the market are overwhelming. As an essential micronutrient for the human body, vitamins are widely present in various foods such as regular food, health food, and special dietary foods. So, how do common vitamins be classified? What are the regulations on the use of vitamins in various types of food by the country? And what are the differences in the functions of vitamins in various foods? Food Partner Network has compiled relevant content for everyone's reference.
The concept and classification of vitamins
According to the requirements of the recommended national standard "Basic Terminology of the Food Industry" (GB/T 15091-1994) and the WS/T 578 series standard "Reference Intake of Dietary Nutrients for Chinese Residents", vitamins refer to a group of low molecular weight organic compounds necessary for promoting biological growth and development and regulating physiological functions. It is divided into fat soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins.
Fat soluble vitamins are a type of vitamin that is soluble in organic solvents but insoluble in water, including vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. After absorption, fat soluble vitamins combine with lipoproteins or certain special proteins and are transported. They can be stored in the body and excreted slowly. If consumed excessively, it can cause cumulative poisoning.
Water soluble vitamins are a type of vitamin that is soluble in water, including the B group of vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, folate, niacin, choline, biotin) and vitamin C. The retention time of water-soluble vitamins in the body is only a few hours, and they should be supplemented daily. However, it is also important to adhere to the principles of moderate, timely, and moderate consumption.
Application basis and function of vitamins
1. Application in regular food
In ordinary food, according to the National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Additives (GB 2760), vitamins are used as food additives and have functions such as flour processing agents and antioxidants. In order to ensure smooth food processing, vitamins will also be used as processing aids in the food industry. For example, B vitamins are used as fermentation nutrients in fermentation processes.
According to the Q&A on the National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Nutritional Fortifiers (GB 14880-2012) issued by the former Ministry of Health, for some substances that belong to both nutritional fortifiers and food additives, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, etc., if used as food additives, they should comply with the requirements of the National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Additives (GB 2760).
If the purpose is to enhance nutrition, its use should comply with the provisions of the National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Nutrient Fortifiers (GB 14880). The scope and amount of use of nutritional fortifiers in food should comply with the requirements of Appendix A of the National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Nutrient Fortifiers (GB 14880). The sources of allowed nutritional fortifier compounds should comply with the provisions of Appendix B.
Therefore, in the general food industry, vitamins are used as food additives, nutritional enhancers, or processing aids in the food industry. Their main functions are to improve the physical or chemical properties of food, increase the nutritional value of food, and ensure smooth food processing.
2. Application in health food
On June 2, 2023, the State Administration for Market Regulation, in conjunction with the National Health Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, released the "Catalogue of Nutrient Supplements for Health Food Raw Materials (2023 Edition)" and the "Catalogue of Nutrient Supplements for Health Functions Claimed by Health Food (2023 Edition)", which will come into effect on October 1, 2023. The use and claims of nutrients and vitamins as nutritional supplements should comply with their relevant regulations.
On January 29, 2021, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued the "Regulations on the Usable Excipients and Their Use of Health Food Filing Products (2021 Edition)", which clearly stipulated 197 types of excipients, including vitamin C, vitamin E, etc., that can be used in health food and their use regulations. It should be noted that vitamin should not be used as excipient for products claiming vitamin supplementation, and vitamin E should not be used as excipient for gel candy.
Therefore, in the classification of health food products, vitamins are used as excipients and nutritional supplements for health food. As a health food excipient, it has functions such as antioxidants; As a nutritional supplement, it is mainly used to supplement insufficient dietary intake, regulate body functions, and not for the purpose of treating diseases. It has a clear dose-response relationship and is suitable for the population, and can claim its unique health functions.
3. Application in special dietary foods
As a nutrient in special dietary foods, the content of vitamins should comply with the standards and/or relevant provisions of special dietary food products such as the National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Special Medical Purpose Formula Foods (GB 29922-2013), the National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Special Medical Purpose Infant Formula Foods (GB 25596-2010), the National Food Safety Standard Infant Formula Foods (GB 10765-2021), the National Food Safety Standard Elderly Infant Formula Foods (GB 10766-2021), and the National Food Safety Standard Preschool Formula Foods (GB 10767-2021).
In special dietary foods, vitamins are intended for nutritional enhancement, and their scope of use, dosage, and compound sources should comply with Appendix C of the Food Nutritional Fortifier Use Standard (GB 14880-2012).
So, in special dietary foods, vitamins are used as nutritional enhancers and nutrients. As a food nutritional enhancer, it is mainly aimed at increasing the nutritional content (value) of food; As a nutrient, it is mainly aimed at meeting the physiological and nutritional needs of specific populations or patients, providing targeted nutrients, but it is not a drug and cannot replace the therapeutic effect of drugs.
Summary
This article categorizes and lists the relevant regulations on vitamins in different foods. It can be seen that the purpose of vitamin use is different, and its application basis and function are also different. Enterprises should legally and compliantly produce and sell products that use vitamins, and consumers should also have a scientific understanding and rational selection of vitamin products.
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2023-12-28
Shaanxi Huike Botanical Development Co., Ltd.
