Additives review
Additives are again hitting the headlines, particularly in relation to the sweetener product aspartame.
Media attention was certainly focused on aspartame in July when the Ramazzini Institute published the first results of a report assessing the possible carcinogenicity of aspartame.
In response to the initial published results, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asked the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food to review the results, as a matter of high priority.
However, nearly five months down the line, EFSA has issued a press release stating that it is still awaiting the primary data to be submitted in order to conduct this review. While this is clearly a matter of priority, it seems that the institute concerned is not particularly forthcoming with the data, which created the furore in the first place.
EFSA has also categorically stated that it does not recommend a need to alter consumption habits based on current safety data for anyone choosing to buy products containing aspartame.
Also in the headlines recently, the Food Standards Agency published a survey assessing the use of benzoates and sorbates in soft drinks in the UK. The survey revealed that of 300 samples, only four had levels of benzoic acid above the legal limits and only four contained sorbic acid not labelled in the ingredients list. Appropriate action was taken by the companies concerned.
This is a very positive message about the compliance of the use of additives, particularly when they are under fire from other quarters. Additives will, under the proposed Regulation for Food Additives, be subject to a 10 year review process which will encompass all new safety/toxicological data or concerns.
This is intended to further boost consumer confidence that additives are safe for the uses for which they have been approved in Europe, and that surveys like this one are indicative of the level of compliance. Despite the phenomenal task of a 10 year review of all additives, this can only be a good thing for the industry in the long term.
Jean Feord is business manager for legislation at Leatherhead Food International
