|
|
Regulation
In the European Union, additives are
regulated by the Additives Directives. The
Scientific Committees advise on their safety.
International organisations such as the
Codex Alimentarius continuously evaluate
the safety of additives.
Safety of additives
Additives are evaluated on different criteria
- how they are absorbed by the body, their
stability in different foods and beverages,
and the quantities in which they can be
safely consumed. Food additive regulations
require that the product be appropriately
labelled to provide information on an additive's
purpose and its name. In the European Union,
approved additives are identified by their
E-number, which appears on the label.
Dr Juliane Beuld, staff scientist with the
ILSI says, "there are no known risks from
additives in general, with rare exceptions
such as sulphites used, for example, in
dried fruits and alcoholic beverages, which
can cause allergies in some susceptible
people." The vast majority of adverse reactions
are not caused by additives, but by food
itself.
Source: EUFIC
 |
|
