News & Press Releases

Draft Iron and Health report press release - 17 June 2009

 

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has today launched a scientific consultation on their draft report on iron and health.

The 14-week consultation will run until 23 September 2009 and respondents are asked to comment on the scientific content of the report only and not on the risk management aspects of the recommendations, as these are outside SACN's remit.

The draft report considered the health consequences of both iron deficiency and excess.  It also considered the adequacy of iron nutrition in the UK population and the possibility that some people may have inadequate intakes of iron and be at risk of iron deficiency.

The two main reasons for SACN to review the evidence on iron and health were as follows:

  • National dietary surveys have consistently shown that some people in the UK have iron intakes below those currently recommended. This has raised concerns that these people may be at risk of iron deficiency and its consequences such as anaemia.
  • Concerns about possible links between red and processed meat intake and colorectal cancer, as red and processed meat are good sources of iron.

Key recommendations being made in the report are:

  • While most population groups in the UK have sufficient levels of body iron, health professionals need to be alert to the risk of iron deficiency in certain groups and ensure that they are provided with appropriate nutritional advice.
  • A healthy balanced diet including a variety of foods containing iron is more important in helping people to achieve adequate iron status, than focussing on inhibitors and enhancers of iron from foods.
  • Lower consumption of red and processed meat would probably reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Although the evidence is not conclusive, as a precaution, it may be advisable for intakes of red and processed meat not to increase above the current average (70g/day) and for high consumers of red and processed meat (100g/day or more) to reduce their intakes.

Following the consultation SACN will consider the responses, and revise and finalise the report. It is anticipated that the Food Standards Agency's Board will discuss the final report's recommendations at their meeting in May 2010 and formally advise health ministers.

  

For more information, journalists should contact:

Beverley Cook
Senior Press Officer
Food Standards Agency
Tel: 020 7276 8888
Email: beverley.cook@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk   

Related issues:

Draft Iron and Health report 'Scientific Consultation' - June 2009

 

 

 

 

 

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