Stars including Cilla Black, Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Sir Cliff Richard, and Sir Michael Caine have backed the campaign which is asking for the EU's proposed Food Supplements Directive to continue allowing high levels of minerals and vitamins.
Under the 2002 Food Supplements Directive and the fortified foods regulation upper and lower levels for both nutrients would be harmonised across the bloc. However, the proposal has caused concern across members states who currently differ radically on what are acceptable levels in supplements.
The petition is the latest in a series of moves by lobbyists to keep up the pressure on decision makers. With household names joining in, the battle has been taken to a new level by appealing for consumers to get on board.
Member states are due to sit round the table today in a working party to discuss the way forward on the legislation. Save Our Supplements is being run by Consumers for Health Choice (CHC) and the letter, which says changes could have a "hugely detrimental effect," also coincides with the Labour party conference in Bournemouth, UK.
Many fear a "heavy handed" and restrictive approach to high doses would not only cause financial problems for supplement manufacturers but would impede on consumer's health choices.
A CHC spokesperson said: "Two years ago the government signalled their commitment to ensure that the EU goal of harmonisation would not be achieved at the expense of the specialist supplements that have been used by millions of consumers across Britain for decades. However, Mr Brown has given no assurances and many are concerned that politically expedient low levels will be set."
Last week the Health Food Manufacturer's Association (HFMA) gained legal advice from European food lawyer Jean Savigny.
Savigny's opinion supports the use of higher levels set by safety standards. The work has been sent to the UKs Food Standards Agency and the European Commission, which is in charge of setting limits.
The European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) also urged member states meeting today to agree with the EC's orientation paper, which set out guidelines for how to set high levels.
Chairman Peter Van Doorn told NutraIngredients.com: "We hope that Member States can agree on the approach given in the Commission's orientation paper. It is a balanced paper and incorporates a robust model for setting maximum levels based on safety.
"Across Europe there are widely diverging views on the issue with some countries favouring low maximum levels, so we expect today's meeting to involve substantial debate.
"Therefore it is imperative to ensure that the decisions underlying the establishment of maximum levels are scientifically sound, based on safety and consistent with the basic principles of EU law."
CHC has already appealed directly to commission president José Manuel Barroso in an advert in the European Voice.
Mike Peet, CHC chairman, warned that the EU risks being seen as "aloof, distant and unresponsive" if it takes an overly restrictive approach.
The commission is expected to propose a directive with actual figures in 2009.
