Lobby demands explanations, compensation over pregnancy supplement Folidi
Authorities urged to treat this as a critical public health incident
The Malta Women’s Lobby has demanded transparency and explanations after Times of Malta reported on Monday that the number of women being treated for taking Folidi—a pregnancy supplement marketed and sold locally with dangerously high levels of vitamin D—had increased to 40.
Sixteen of those affected are pregnant, whilst others were trying to conceive. They all unknowingly consumed up to 200 times the recommended daily dose.
"This is not a case of personal misuse or over-supplementation. These women took a product marketed as safe, in line with health advice, and ended up seriously ill," the lobby said, noting that miscarriages had been reported.
The lobby said that while it may be too early to definitively link all outcomes to Folidi, full accountability was required.
It called on the authorities to give a clear, public explanation about how this product reached the Maltese market, with full disclosure of all testing data, affected batches, and a clear timeline of when regulators were first alerted and what steps were taken.
"We urge Malta’s medical and food safety institutions to treat this as a critical public health incident of international relevance, and to thoroughly document the short and long-term effects on those affected. Research and follow-up should be conducted with consent, care, and in collaboration with the women concerned," the lobby said.
It also called for long-term support for the affected women and their families and compensation for the pain, suffering and uncertainty they faced.
"This incident also highlights the need for regulatory reform for women’s health products. This must include stronger pre-market testing and clear labelling for all supplements, particularly those targeting pregnant or preconception populations, as well as mandatory systems for adverse event reporting and routine post-market surveillance of all such products," it said.