CompoAtlas

Iron in food supplements

3,535 supplements declared in France contain a form of this nutrient

Iron: in France, a food supplement may not provide more than 14 mg a day (Order of 9 May 2006, not revised since November 2006, Annex III); for adults, EFSA's safe level (no upper limit established) is 40 mg a day. The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Written Question No 2686, ministry answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025.

What we know about this ingredient

Associated research

ClinicalTrials.gov · A trial is not proof: it tests a hypothesis.

2026-11-01

In plain words

À quoi il sert, selon les fabricants

Objectifs les plus souvent annoncés pour les compléments qui en contiennent (fer) : immunité (753 produits), cheveux et ongles (368 produits), sport (295 produits), grossesse et allaitement (226 produits), système nerveux (208 produits).

Ce sont les objectifs déclarés par les fabricants à l'administration, pas des effets démontrés. Sur l'emballage, seules les allégations de santé autorisées par l'Union peuvent être écrites.

Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Jusqu'où c'est sûr

Pour un adulte, les données ne suffisent pas à l'EFSAEuropean Food Safety Authority. pour fixer une limite supérieure. Elle indique un niveau de sécurité de 40 mg/j : en dessous, on peut être raisonnablement sûr de l'absence d'effet indésirable ; au-dessus, l'EFSA ne peut pas évaluer le risque faute de données.

Précision de l'EFSA : Pas de limite supérieure : niveaux de sécurité (safe levels), qui ne caractérisent pas un risque en cas de dépassement ; avant 1 an, apport supplémentaire seulement (compléments et aliments enrichis).

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

La règle en France

En France, la dose journalière recommandée d'un complément ne doit pas apporter plus de 14 mg (arrêté du 9 mai 2006, non révisé depuis novembre 2006). Compl'Alim ne publie pas la dose des produits déclarés : comparez celle de l'étiquette à ce plafond et à la limite de sécurité de l'EFSA.

French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA safety references

Le repère de l'EFSA porte sur l'apport total d'une journée, alimentation et compléments.

EFSA daily references
PopulationTypeValue
4-6 monthsSafe level5 mg/j
7-11 monthsSafe level5 mg/j
1-3 yearsSafe level10 mg/j
4-6 yearsSafe level15 mg/j
7-10 yearsSafe level20 mg/j
11-14 yearsSafe level30 mg/j
15-17 yearsSafe level35 mg/j
adultsSafe level40 mg/j
pregnancySafe level40 mg/j
breastfeedingSafe level40 mg/j

No upper limit: safe levels, which do not characterise a risk when exceeded; below 1 year, additional intake only (supplements and fortified foods)

EFSA NDA Panel, 2024b. EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Maximum dose in France

Maximum daily dose per supplement in France: 14 mg, according to the Order of 9 May 2006.

The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Where to find it in food

Selected everyday foods, ranked by decreasing content across all confidence levels. Each value is at least one tenth of the maximum among the foods examined. Content varies with the food and preparation.

Content per 100 g of edible portion
FoodContentUnitCiqual confidence code
Chicken liver, cooked11.6mgB (good)
Calf liver, cooked4.5mgA (high)
Pistachio, roasted, no added salt4.03mgB (good)
Mussel, boiled3.99mgA (high)
Almond, with skin, no added salt3.4mgA (high)
Hazelnut, no added salt3mgA (high)
Green lentils, boiled2.45mgA (high)

The Ciqual code indicates confidence in each value: A high, B good, C moderate, D low (a less certain value).

ANSES, Ciqual table 2025, published on 19 November 2025. Licence Ouverte 2.0.

Authorised health claims

  • « Iron contributes to normal cognitive development of children »
    Conditions: The claim can be used only for food which is at least a source of iron as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
  • « Iron contributes to normal cognitive function »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of iron as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Iron contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of iron as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of iron as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Iron contributes to normal oxygen transport in the body »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of iron as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Iron contributes to the normal function of the immune system »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of iron as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of iron as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Iron has a role in the process of cell division »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of iron as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
3 refused or revoked claims: they cannot appear on packaging
  • « Excessive hair loss in non-menopausal women »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Iron affects activity of heart, liver and muscles. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food is not sufficiently defined to be able to be assessed and the claim could not therefore be substantiated.
  • « Iron is needed to allow the body metabolise drugs and other substances. Iron contributes to the body’s ability to metabolise drugs and other substances. Iron is needed for the metabolism of drugs. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food is not sufficiently defined to be able to be assessed and the claim could not therefore be substantiated.

Official English text, as entered in the Union register. A claim may only be used under its conditions.

8 authorised claims, 3 refused or revoked. EU Register of nutrition and health claims, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Forms declared in supplements

Union list: vitamin and mineral forms that may be used in a food supplement (Directive 2002/46/EC, Annex II).

Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements, latest consolidated version (Annex II: forms of vitamins and minerals), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Read the reference page

Products containing it