The Health Food Manufacturers’ Association CLEAR CHECKTM (Copy, Labelling, Education, Advertising, Regulation) 1 Wolsey Road East Molesey Surrey KT8 9EL t: 020 8481 7100 e: [email protected] w: www.hfma.co.uk/CLEARCHECK

FOOD LABELLING GUIDELINES CALCULATION OF

Vitamins must be quantified as mg/µg but iu may be given for additional information if desired. The form of certain vitamins to be used as the basis of calculating quantities is covered here together with the conversion of iu to and from mg/µg where applicable.

Please note that quantities refer to mg or µg of the compound itself, not of a preparation of the compound.

[mg = milligram; µg = microgram; iu = international unit]

Vitamin A This must be calculated as µg of or µg of retinol equivalents on the basis that 6µg of beta- carotene* or 12 µg of other biologically active carotenoids equal 1 µg of retinol equivalent.

*[6 µg beta-carotene is equivalent to 10 iu beta-carotene]

(Particular care should be taken when calculating the equivalent of beta-carotene products from the USA where the conversion is on the basis of 2µg beta-carotene to 1µg retinol equivalent.)

To convert iu of vitamin A to µg of retinol equivalents, divide by 3.33

E.g. 2664 iu vitamin A = 800 µg vitamin A

The EC RI/NRV for vitamin A is provided by 4.8mg of beta-carotene because 4.8mg  6 = 0.8mg or 800µg retinol equivalents

Vitamin D is to be calculated as µg of (vitamin D2) or as µg of (vitamin D3).

To convert iu of vitamin D to µg, divide by 40

E.g. 200 iu vitamin D = 5 µg vitamin D

Vitamin E must be calculated as mg of d-alpha- equivalents (a-TE).

To convert iu of vitamin E to mg, divide by 1.49

E.g. 14.9 iu vitamin E = 10 mg vitamin E 100 iu vitamin E = 67 mg vitamin E

1mg of vitamin E (a-TE) = 1.000mg d-alpha-tocopherol itself = 1.096mg d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate = 1.231mg d-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate = 1.355mg dl-alpha-tocopherol = 1.490mg dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate = 1.674mg dl-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate

The Health Food Manufacturers’ Association is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee. Company No. 5873676. VAT No. 233 6384 65. Registered Office: 1 Wolsey Road, East Molesey, Hampton Court, Surrey KT8 9EL Table: Relative biological activities of different forms of Vitamin E mg per iu iu per mg d-alpha-tocopherol 0.67 1.49 d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate 0.735 1.36 d-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate 0.83 1.21 dl-alpha-tocopherol 0.91 1.10 dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate 1.00 1.00 dl-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate 1.12 0.89

3.3 mg  or 10 mg  tocopherol are equivalent to 1 mg D- tocopherol

Vitamin C must be calculated as mg of ascorbic acid or .

Ascorbic acid is 88.4% of sodium ascorbate, 42.5% of ascorbyl palmitate, 89.7% of anhydrous calcium ascorbate and 82.0% of calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Calcium is 10.3% of anhydrous calcium ascorbate and 9.4% of the dihydrate)

1mg of ascorbic acid = 1.13mg sodium ascorbate = 2.35mg ascorbyl palmitate = 1.115mg calcium ascorbate (anhydrous) = 1.22mg calcium ascorbate dihydrate

Thiamin Thiamin must be calculated as mg of thiamin base. Thiamin base is 78.7% of thiamin hydrochloride and 81.0% of thiamin mononitrate

1mg thiamin base = 1.27mg thiamin hydrochloride = 1.23 thiamin mononitrate

Riboflavin Must be calculated as

Niacin As nicotinic acid or or equivalent on the basis that 60mg of tryptophan equal 1 mg of niacin equivalent.

Vitamin B6 must be calculated as mg of base. Pyridoxine base is 82.0% of pyridoxine hydrochloride

1mg of pyridoxine base = 1.22mg of pyridoxine hydrochloride

Folacin/Folic Acid Folacin must be calculated as µg of total

Vitamin B12 Must be calculated as cobalamines

Biotin Must be calculated as

Pantothenic acid must be calculated as mg of D-pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is 92% of calcium pantothenate and 106% of panthenol

1mg pantothenic acid = 1.09mg calcium pantothenate = 0.94 mg panthenol

The guidance in this document reflects HFMA CLEAR CHECK™ opinion only of applicable regulatory requirements. Enforcement and interpretation of legislation is a matter for the appropriate regulatory body and/or the courts. The legal responsibility for the labelling and presentation of foodstuffs remains with the food business operator.

Calculation of Vitamins/CLEAR CHECK™ December 2016 Page 2 of 2