The Sweet trouble

Nobody wants to choke down a yucky supplement, but pills that look or taste like candy may be hazardous to a child’s health. Some nutrients are troublesome — or even deadly — in high doses, especially for kids. For example, the Food and Drug Administration warns the lethal dose for young children may be as low as 3 grams (3,000 milligrams) elemental iron, the amount in 49 tablets with 65 milligrams iron apiece. If you have youngsters in your house, protect them by buying neutraltasting supplements and keeping all pills, nutrient and otherwise, in a safe cabinet, preferably high off the floor and locked tight to resist tiny prying fingers.