New RDA Values in Europe, Now Also Covering Potassium

Jungbunzlauer actively followed this revision and welcomes the outcome with regard to its highly bioavailable Special Salts portfolio of organic calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc salts.

11/05/09 Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) for minerals and vitamins are regulated on European level since 1990 to provide values for nutritional labelling and the calculation of what constitutes a significant amount of the specific nutrient. These important nutritional values underwent its first revision very recently with the new Commission Directive 2008/100/EC which entered into force on 18 November 2008.

Jungbunzlauer actively followed this revision and welcomes the outcome with regard to its highly bioavailable Special Salts portfolio of organic calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc salts.

The most significant change is the addition of 8 new mineral nutrients to the list. Potassium is among those newcomers with a RDA of 2000mg, opening the way for new fortification concepts and health claims with Jungbunzlauer’s tripotassium citrate and potassium gluconate. These salts are used in the industry for “food minus” concepts, such as sodium-free pH regulation and salt replacement, but also for “food plus” concepts such as potassium fortification in infant formula, clinical and sports nutrition as well as in functional foods. In the latter category, it is predominantly applied for heart health concepts due to the positive effect of potassium on blood pressure. Several innovative potassium health claims concepts are currently emerging. In this respect, Jungbunzlauer actively supports the health benefit of potassium citrate concerning acid-base balance and bone health.

Further changes of RDA values refer to the reduction of recommended levels for phosphorus (-13%) and zinc (-33%) as well as the increase of magnesium levels (+25%) to reflect changes in dietary habits and overall scientific developments since the last revision.

The Commission Directive 2008/100/EC needs to be implemented by the member states until 31 October 2009. The trade of products which do not comply with this Directive is prohibited with effect from 31 October 2012.