Vitamin A Draft Report

You are invited to comment on the draft report on vitamin A the draft report on vitamin A before it is finalised and published. Comments can be emailed to sacn@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk or sent to SACN Secretariat, Room 808c Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6NH.

Comments are requested to be as concise as possible and should be forwarded no later than 25 March 2005.

SACN was asked by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to reassess dietary advice to consumers on foods and supplements containing vitamin A. The specific terms of reference for the work to review the current advice to consumers on vitamin A intakes and consumption of liver, and to consider other strategies that might reduce the retinol intake of higher consumers.

The draft report explains the background to SACN's consideration of this issue as well as detailing the way consideration of the evidence base was structured, the evidence considered and the conclusions reached. The report includes the issue of animal feeds that was tangential to the committee remit but none the less of importance. This area is therefore not as detailed in the report with the intention that further work would be carried out by Health Departments and the Food Standards Agency before taken forward.

The draft report has been prepared by SACN but does not necessarily represent the final views of the committee and it does not represent the policy of Health Departments and the Food Standards Agency.

Once interested parties comments have been taken into account and the draft report has been agreed by the committee it will be published and presented to the Food Standards Agency and Health Departments to take forward.

Although this opportunity to comment is not a formal consultation, it is being undertaken within the normal framework of openness. Please feel free to bring the draft report to the attention of anyone you believe may have an interest in it.

Please note that all responses will normally be made publicly available in full including address details. If you would prefer your comments not to be made publicly available, please indicate this in your letter and return the attached form. If no objection is received, we will assume that you consent to full disclosure.