Only food additives included in the european community list may be placed on the market as such and used in. Food additives are molecules used in the processing of foodstuffs to improve food quality, expiry date, safety, color, stability, flavor, sweetness and other properties of food. This valuable reference gives you all the facts about the relative safety and side effects of more than 8,000 ingredients that end up indirectly in your food as a result of processing and curing, such as preservatives, foodtainting pesticides, and animal drugs. Thus pesticide residues, metallic contamination, mycotoxins are excluded. The legal definition of a food additive excludes common ingredients such as sugar and salt, vitamins, flavours, etc. The european scientific committee for food scf oversees additive safety against the established criteria. Widely used in modern food industry, there are increasing concerns about the health risks of food additives such as colorings, flavorings, and preservatives. Food additives are intentionally added to food and must be safe for a lifetime of consumption based on current toxicological evaluation.
A consumers dictionary of food additives, 7th edition. Food additives can be used as a preservative, nocalorie sweetener, color, flavor, fat replacer, nutrient addition, emulsifier, stabilizer, thickener, ph control, leavening, anticaking agent. Ensuring that use of the additive will not mislead consumers. European food safety authority efsa better training for safer food btsf infographics and factsheets. Producers must inform the commission of new information which may affect the safety assessment of the food additive. Commonly found on food labels, their safety assessment and approval are the responsibility of the european food safety authority efsa having a single unified list for food additives was first agreed upon in 1962 with food. The harmonization of food additive regulations in the eu recently has. Food additives european food safety authority efsa. The prudent use of approved food additives continues to be important in the food indus food additives data book.
Pdf additives types, sources, functions and regulations. However, the use of food additives is regulated imposing strict rules as the impact of those additives on health cannot be neglected. Additives are substances used for a variety of reasons such as preservation, colouring, sweetening, etc. Mar 27, 2020 processed foods often contain additives with intimidating chemical names or numbers. Butylated hydroxyanisole bha and butylated hydroxytoluene bht are synthetic preservatives. If a substance is added to a food for a specific purpose in that food, it is referred to as a direct additive. With contributions from nearly 50 leading international authorities, the second edition of food additives details food additives for special dietary needs, contemporary studies on the role of food additives in learning, sleep, and behavioral problems in children, safety and regulatory requirements in the u. It preve nts or inh ibits spoi lage of food due to f ungi, bacteria and. In the european union all food additives are identified by an e number. E numbers e stands for europe are codes for substances used as food additives for use within the european union eu and european free trade association efta. The various types of food additives are considered, e. The details of the food additive laws, regulations and orders can be obtained from official website of fssai, who, codex alimentarius. Food additives are substances added intentionally to foodstuffs to perform certain technological functions, for example to colour, to sweeten or to help preserve foods. Information in the database may not be timely, complete or accurate.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors picks, and more. All other substances that fulfil the definition of additive are forbidden. An additive is a substance which is added in small amounts to foods or other things in. As all food components, they are classified based on their function in the foodstuffs. Food additives definition of food additives by medical. The list below gives the reference number the e number and the english name of all those additives now listed in annex ii of regulation 332008.
The food category in which the additive is authorised to be used also serves a hyperlink. Eu food regulation on additives, novel foods and food. In that sense efsa is merely providing resources, infrastructure and means of commu. Food additives are used for the purpose of maintaining or improving the. Food additives is intended to provide the readers with knowledge on some very significant aspects of the food additives currently in use. This contribution lays bare the structure of eu food law as it appears from. The essential guide for choosing safe and healthful food a consumers dictionary of food additives is back, in an updated fifth edition. Food additive article about food additive by the free. The codex general standard for food additives gsfa, codex stan 1921995 sets forth the conditions under which permitted food additives may be used in all foods, whether or not they have previously been standardized by codex.
Rules for use of additives in food additives, food enzymes, food flavourings and nutrients. Dairy products and analogues this category covers all types of dairy products that are derived from the milk of any milkproducing animal e. Food additives are defined in european union community legislation. A oneoff or very short term exposure to a substance, usually less than 24 hours. Under the 1958 food additive amendments to the fdca, any substance intentionally added to food is a food additive and is subject to premarket approval by the fda unless the use of the substance is gras the gras provision. A dietary recommendation used when there isnt enough data to calculate an average requirement. Nov 11, 2011 this database is made available solely for the purpose of information. Food additivesdictionaries and encyclopedias, cooking. For the definition of a novel food or ingredient see point 4 of the regulatory framework in section 14. Jim is a member of the united nationsworld health organisation joint expert committee on food additives and has edited three books on food additives. Guidance document describing the food categories in part e. In the eu it can take 10 years or more to obtain approval for a new food additive. The commission will change the eu lists of food additives with regulations through regulatory procedure with scrutiny decision 1999468ec.
Food additives considered for specifications only food additive specifications citric acid ra gellan gum rb polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monostearate rc potassium aluminium silicate rd quillaia extract type 2 re r. Eu food additive code synonyms, eu food additive code pronunciation, eu food additive code translation, english dictionary definition of eu food additive code. Health assessment of food additives food additives are intended for admixture to foods in order to influence their condition or to achieve specific properties or effects. The term food additive means any substance the intended use of which results or may. Food additives are always included in the ingredient lists of foods in which they are used. The law covering food additives in the eu which was first harmonised in 1989 has been amended frequently since then, but has now been. Summary introduction food safety authority of ireland. Food additives synonyms, food additives pronunciation, food additives translation, english dictionary definition of food additives. Codex general standard for food additives gsfa online. Neither the commission nor any person acting on behalf of the. Eu food regulation on additives, novel foods and food contact.
Thedefinition of food additive does not include contaminants. This book includes food additives and why they are used, safety of food additives in europe, additive legislation within the eu and outside europe and the complete listing of all additives permitted in the eu. Food additive definition and meaning collins english dictionary. The european union adopted directives which set the criteria by which additives are assessed. Feed additives may not be put on the market unless authorisation has been given following. Natural food additives are always better, safer and easier. He taught, researched and consulted at strathclyde and caledonian universities in glasgow for six years before moving to the prince edward island food technology centre, canada as. A food additive, which prolongs the shelflife of a food by protecting against deterioration caused by microorganisms. Food additive definition and meaning collins english. Listing by e number to go to main food additive page, click here for an archive page showing the previous listing for 19952011, click here the list below gives the reference number the e number and the english name of all those additives now listed in annex ii of regulation 332008. A substance that acts against harmful organisms, such as pests or diseases, which affect plants. Once authorised at eu level, a food additive or foods containing it can be placed on the market in all member states, as well as norway and iceland.
Nov 06, 2016 daniele pisanello eu definition of fa eu law defines food additive as follows. But many of these are derived from or based on chemicals that are found in nature. The european union legislation defines them as any substance not normally consumed as a food in itself and not normally used as a characteristic ingredient of food, whether or not it has nutritive value. Additive definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Via this hyperlink it is possible to switch to the certain category, subcategory respectively and display the authorised food additives. Eu food law handbook european institute for food law series. Food additive definition of food additive by medical. The natural and synthetic nature of food additives dummies. Eu food additive code definition of eu food additive. In some european countries, e number is sometimes used informally as a pejorative term for artificial food additives, and products may promote themselves as free of e numbers. The book takes the perspective of food law embedded within general eu law. Food categories the food categories are listed under the bookmark categories in the food additives top window. Regulation ec no 332008 prohibits the placing on the market of a food additive or any food in which such a food additive is present if the use of the food additive does not comply with the requirements set out in the regulation. This valuable reference gives you all the facts about the relative safety and side effects of more than 8,000 ingredients that end up indirectly in your food as a result of processing and curing, such as preservatives, food tainting pesticides, and animal drugs.
Legal aspects of the food additive approval process. Food additives are substances added to food intentionally to preserve flavor or enhance the taste and appearance of food. Status of safety assessments of food additives presently permitted in the eu. Regulation ec 332008 sets the rules on food additives. The european food safety authority efsa first conducts a scientific risk. To ensure your safety, both the natural and synthetic food additives used in the united states come only from the group of substances known as the generally recognized as safe. Food additives news, research and analysis the conversation. We presented our view on food law in books that we initially. For an archive page showing the previous listing for 19952011, click here. Guidance document on the ec regulation on flavourings effa.
Novel foods are defined by the novel food regulation ec no 25897. Although the annex in the original regulation was empty. This is incorrect, because many components of natural foods have assigned e numbers and the number is a synonym for the chemical component, e. Novel food ingredients an overview sciencedirect topics. The commission declines any responsibility or liability whatsoever for errors or deficiencies in this database. Food additives definition of food additives by the free. Jim smith studied food science in glasgow, winnipeg and nottingham and has worked in the food ingredients industry as technical manager as well as in a scotch whisky distillery in both production and quality control. The paper concludes with consideration of those circumstances in which the use of additives is a justified and b unjustified. Descriptions in plain english of more than 12, 000 ingredients both harmful and desirable found in foods winter, ruth on. A novel food or ingredient is one that has not been used for human consumption in the eu to a significant degree before may 15, 1997. Eu food additive code definition of eu food additive code.
Guidance document describing the food categories in part e of annex ii to regulation ec no 332008 on food additives 1. This includes five years of safety testing, followed by two years for evaluation by the european food safety authority and another three years before the additive receives an euwide approval for use in every country in the european union. Daniele pisanello eu definition of fa eu law defines food. The eu regulation on food additives and its history. Food additives have become essential in the food sector with the rising need for food processing and preservation. Product labels must identify both the function of the additive. Monosodium glutamate msg, for example, is commonly thought to be a food additive but is actually a flavour enhancer and is therefore not included in this dictionary. Feed additives are products used in animal nutrition for purposes of improving the quality of feed and the quality of food from animal origin, or to improve the animals performance and health, e. Nov 01, 2001 with contributions from nearly 50 leading international authorities, the second edition of food additives details food additives for special dietary needs, contemporary studies on the role of food additives in learning, sleep, and behavioral problems in children, safety and regulatory requirements in the u. This definition includes any substance used in the production, processing, treatment, packaging, transportation or storage of food. Food additives are substances added intentionally to foodstuffs to perform certain technological functions, for example to colour, to sweeten or to help. Food additive definition of food additive by medical dictionary. Functional substance that is normally neither consumed as a food itself nor is used as a food ingredient, but is intentionally added to food usually in small quantities to assist in its processing or to improve its certain characteristics such as aroma, color, consistency, taste, texture, packaging, andor shelf life.