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How the vitamins shall be advertised
CURRENT TOPICS. How the Vitamins Shall Be Advertised.--( Chem. and Ind., Vol. 53, P. 53.) While many food and drug manufacturers in this country are somewhat heatedly discussing the proposed revisions to the Federal Pure Food and Drug Regulations, the Swiss have enacted a law regulating the manner in which vitamin preparations shall be advertised. The Swiss Government Department of Health recognizes how essential to a person's health and well-being are the vitamins when taken in sufficient and carefully regulated quantities. T h e y also realize how susceptible the public can be to the exploitation of such preparations especially where they are something directly concerned with the individual's health. Unlike most food and drug preparations which can be analyzed with comparitive ease, some vitamin preparation of allegedly high content may have been diluted to give a dose that is practically worthless. T.he present recognized methods for testing vitamins are rather tedious and intricate so that the ordinary food analyst is hardly in a position to conduct the check ups upon all such proprietary preparations. Thus, only since the International Conference in June, 1931 have there been established standards and units for four of the vitamins, namely the fat-soluble vitamin-A, the antirachitic vitamin-D, the antineuritic vitamin-B, and the antiscorbutic vitamin-C. The reference standards for this purpose are respectively carotene, a solution of irradiated ergosterol prepared according to a definite prescription, an extract of rice polishings adsorbed on futler's earth and fresh lemon juice. The tests are further complicated by the fact that living animals may vary in their responses to identical conditions and such animals should be from stock reared on a diet of definite composition. In order to protect the people, the food regulations as far back as 193o were revised to the effect that no food can be put on sale with a mention of a particularly high vitamin content except after authorization by the Cantonal authority; such authorization being based on the issuance of a certificate testifying to the accuracy of the manufacturers claims. In order to repress further many probable advertising abuses the Federal Department of the Interior will put in force on June 3o, 1934, instructions as to how foods containing vitamins shall be labelled, described and advertised, after which no other form of descriptive matter will be allowed. 4oo
Mar., I934. ]
CURRENT TOPICS.
4OI
Thus, if permission has been given to indicate a particularly high v i t a m i n content, it is permissible to m a k e s t a t e m e n t s on the advertising m a t t e r of a general charact4r on the nature and action of these substances. For example, (I) t h a t vitamins, together with the nutritive substances (fats, proteins, carbohydrates, mineral salts) are essential for a rational diet, and t h a t their absence can provoke certain organic troubles known as avitaminosis or deficiency diseases as typified b y rickets in m a n ; (2) t h a t it is essential in particular to provide infants with a sufficient dose of all the v i t a m i n s ; (3) t h a t actually a m o n g the substances known as vitamins, the following have been recognized as indispensable for man. T h e antixerophthalmic vitamin-A, the antiberi-beri vitamin-B1, the antipellagra v i t a m i n - B o, the antiscorbutic v i t a m i n - C and the antirachitic vitamin-D. If a particular high content of v i t a m i n - A has been stated it m a y be mentioned t h a t this v i t a m i n is necessary for normal growth of the, b o d y and t h a t its absence lessens the resistance of the organism to infections. For vitamin-B1 . . . t h a t this v i t a m i n is necessary for the normal growth of the b o d y and the normal assimilation of c a r b o h y d r a t e s (sugar and starch) b y the organism; t h a t its absence can p r o v o k e lack of appetite and t h a t it contributes to the maintenance of the normal function of the nervous s y s t e m (but not t h a t it protects against nerves). For vitamin-B~ . . . t h a t this v i t a m i n is necessary for the normal growth of the b o d y and for the normal functions of the nervous system and the digestive organs. For v i t a m i n - C . . . t h a t this v i t a m i n is necessary in particular for the d e v e l o p m e n t and maintenance in good condition of the bone system, of the teeth and gums. T h a t the absence of this v i t a m i n lowers the resistance of the organisms to infections. For v i t a m i n - D . . . t h a t in rational combination with other vitamins, it favors the normal process of calcification of bones and of the teeth. In the case of a foodstuff containing v i t a m i n - D , one m u s t mention as a rule the daily consumption of food which m u s t not be exceeded. If in a food product the simultaneous presence of two v i t a m i n s has been stated, one in considerable and the other in u n i m p o r t a n t q u a n t i t y and in irrational combination, the second vitamin m a y not be mentioned without expressly specifying t h a t it is in insufficient quantity. C.
Mar., I934. ]
CURRENT TOPICS.
4OI
Thus, if permission has been given to indicate a particularly high v i t a m i n content, it is permissible to m a k e s t a t e m e n t s on the advertising m a t t e r of a general charact4r on the nature and action of these substances. For example, (I) t h a t vitamins, together with the nutritive substances (fats, proteins, carbohydrates, mineral salts) are essential for a rational diet, and t h a t their absence can provoke certain organic troubles known as avitaminosis or deficiency diseases as typified b y rickets in m a n ; (2) t h a t it is essential in particular to provide infants with a sufficient dose of all the v i t a m i n s ; (3) t h a t actually a m o n g the substances known as vitamins, the following have been recognized as indispensable for man. T h e antixerophthalmic vitamin-A, the antiberi-beri vitamin-B1, the antipellagra v i t a m i n - B o, the antiscorbutic v i t a m i n - C and the antirachitic vitamin-D. If a particular high content of v i t a m i n - A has been stated it m a y be mentioned t h a t this v i t a m i n is necessary for normal growth of the, b o d y and t h a t its absence lessens the resistance of the organism to infections. For vitamin-B1 . . . t h a t this v i t a m i n is necessary for the normal growth of the b o d y and the normal assimilation of c a r b o h y d r a t e s (sugar and starch) b y the organism; t h a t its absence can p r o v o k e lack of appetite and t h a t it contributes to the maintenance of the normal function of the nervous s y s t e m (but not t h a t it protects against nerves). For vitamin-B~ . . . t h a t this v i t a m i n is necessary for the normal growth of the b o d y and for the normal functions of the nervous system and the digestive organs. For v i t a m i n - C . . . t h a t this v i t a m i n is necessary in particular for the d e v e l o p m e n t and maintenance in good condition of the bone system, of the teeth and gums. T h a t the absence of this v i t a m i n lowers the resistance of the organisms to infections. For v i t a m i n - D . . . t h a t in rational combination with other vitamins, it favors the normal process of calcification of bones and of the teeth. In the case of a foodstuff containing v i t a m i n - D , one m u s t mention as a rule the daily consumption of food which m u s t not be exceeded. If in a food product the simultaneous presence of two v i t a m i n s has been stated, one in considerable and the other in u n i m p o r t a n t q u a n t i t y and in irrational combination, the second vitamin m a y not be mentioned without expressly specifying t h a t it is in insufficient quantity. C.