France's Synadiet says beta carotene safe for smokers under EU regs

France's union of natural, specialist nutrition products and food supplements, the Synadiet, has issued a statement in response to media  claims that beta carotene-based food supplements are dangerous for human  consumption, especially for smokers. The group said: "several studies  carried out with smokers who use supplements with strong doses of beta  carotene (20mg-30mg per day) demonstrated an increased cancer risk.  These doses are very much higher than those we would be likely to  consume, even by taking food supplements. In France the  maximum-permitted dose is 4.8mg per day."

On a regulatory level, consumer protection is ensured in France by the  requirement that supplement manufacturers submit a complete dossier to  the Ministry of Finance's General Directorate on Competition,  Consumption and the Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF). No product exceeding  the 4.8mg per day maximum is allowed to be marketed.

However, the Synadiet recognized that products sold via the Internet by  manufacturers in other legal jurisdictions may not be held to French  regulations. The group warned consumers to take note of the possible  risks involved in on-line purchases.