Iron supplements and childhood poisoning

Nutrition Research Newsletter, June, 1996

Iron-containing nutrient supplements are the leading cause of poisoning deaths among children under the age of six years in the United States. Between 1986 and 1994, 38 children died from accidentally swallowing iron-containing products. The number of pills consumed in fatal cases ranged from five to 98. FDA has proposed requiting iron-containing products containing 30 mg or more of iron to be sold only in unit-dose packages, which require more time and effort to open than conventional packages and may therefore discourage consumption by children. FDA has also proposed requiring warning labels on an iron-containing supplements taken in solid oral dosage forms, including iron-containing children's vitamins.

Audrey T Hingjey, Preventing Childhood Poisoning, FDA Consumer 30(2).7-11 (Mar1996)[Correspondence: Audrey T Hingley, FDA Consumer, FDA, (HF1-40), 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville MD 208571