Ideally, iron supplements should be taken on an empty stomach. The foods listed here can significantly decrease iron absorption. Avoid them for 1 hour before and 2 hours after taking an iron supplement. Iron supplements are the leading cause of poisoning death in children in the United States. As few as 3-4 iron tablets can be deadly to a very young child.
Prenatal vitamins are often the source of iron poisoning in children.
Contact a Poison Control Center immediately if you suspect a child has accidentally eaten any amount of an iron supplement. The number of children accidentally poisoned with iron supplements has doubled in the last 10 years. To deal with this problem, the FDA has proposed stricter packaging and labeling for iron products. The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.