How food additives are controlled in Europe

How food additives are controlled in Europe.

In the contemporary food industry, additives play a pivotal role in enhancing the taste, appearance, and shelf-life of various food products. However, the inclusion of additives must adhere to stringent regulatory processes to ensure consumer safety and adherence to legal standards.

Central to the regulatory framework governing food additives in the EU is the assignment of an E number, indicating approval for safe usage across member states. This approval is contingent upon compliance with a predetermined list of authorized additives, meticulously curated to meet stringent safety standards and consumer protection mandates.

The procedural pathway for the authorization of a new additive is meticulously delineated within an EC Regulation established in 2008. At the outset, an applicant seeking approval for a new additive must undergo scrutiny by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The EFSA conducts a comprehensive assessment of the substance's safety profile, scrutinizing data derived from experiments conducted on both animals and humans over an extended period. Crucially, this evaluation culminates in the determination of the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL), delineating the threshold at which adverse…