Red light for orange supplements
The Norwegian authorities were hot on the tail of another supplement batch from the Czech Republic this month – blocking the entry of products containing the alkaloid synephrine.
The ingredient, which can come from synthetic sources or from ‘bitter orange’ Citrus aurantium, is not authorised for use in food supplements in the EU although it is sometimes touted for its weight loss and energy properties.
The Finnish Food Safety Authority (EVIRA) said in 2013 synephrine acted in a similar way to the widely banned stimulant ephedrine. This stance was echoes by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Meanwhile, meta-analysis from researchers in Nebraska suggested it was safe.
