A manufacturer of children’s health products has strongly rejected a warning issued by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) over the safety of certain zinc supplements.
Zinplex says there is no scientific proof to support SAHPRA’s claim that products containing zinc picolinate and selenium are unsafe for children. On Friday, the regulator announced that such products are not permitted for use by anyone under the age of 18, warning that they pose a potential risk of overdose and calling for their removal from the market.
In response, Zinplex said the side effects cited by SAHPRA are not unique to its products but are common to zinc supplements in general and are clearly stated in patient information leaflets.
The company maintains that the zinc levels in its products are well below internationally accepted limits and do not cause toxicity when used according to instructions. Zinplex added that its supplements have been sold safely for more than 20 years and that zinc picolinate is widely recognised for paediatric use internationally.
Zinplex has now formally requested that SAHPRA provide scientific or medical evidence to support its safety concerns.