AOAC SPIFAN Stakeholder Program Meeting Book (September 10, 2020)

STAKEHOLDER PANEL ON INFANT FORMULA & ADULT NUTRITIONALS (SPIFAN) VITAMIN C

E. Campos Giménez, Lyu Ning Société des Produits Nestlé, Qingdao Customs District 134 th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, September 2020

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Scurvy, the sailor’s disease

Vitamin C deficiency produces the disease known as Scurvy (the sailor’s disease).

Symptoms have been recorded as early as 1550 BCE in the Ancient Egypt, with later description by Hippocrates in Ancient Greek culture.

Reports exist on the consumption of fresh sprouted soy beans in Chinese marine expeditions to prevent scurvy (Ma Huan, The overall survey of the ocean shores, 1433) and curation of scurvy symptoms in Spanish expeditions when ingesting fresh fruits (mançanilla) (1602, Father Antonio de la Ascensión).

In the 18 th century, James Cook took sauerkraut on his voyages to maintain his crew healthy.

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Source of illustrations Lemons: https://www.savibio.fr/fruits/42-citron-jaune.html