Comprehensive European dietary exposure model (CEDEM) for food additives

Calcium l-methylfolate as a source of folate added for nutritional purposes to infant and follow-on formula, baby food and processed cereal-based food

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the extension of use of calcium l‐methylfolate to be used as a source of folate added for nutritional purposes to infant and follow‐on formula, baby food and processed cereal‐based food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 609/2013. In 2004, EFSA assessed the use of calcium l‐methylfolate as a source of folate in foods for particular nutritional uses, food supplements and foods intended for the general population. The new alternative synthetic step proposed to produce the nutrient source, using platinum as a catalyst, did not raise any safety concern and the production process was found to consistently yield a product in line with the proposed specifications. Based on the studies assessed in the previous evaluation, it was concluded that calcium l‐methylfolate is non‐genotoxic and that subchronic and embryotoxicity/teratogenicity studies in rats did not reveal any adverse effects up to the highest doses tested. The Panel considered that no additional toxicological studies are required on the nutrient source. The intervention study in healthy infants provided by the applicant did not indicate differences in growth and tolerance parameters in infants who consumed either an infant formula supplemented with calcium l‐methylfolate or with folic acid, and did not raise concerns regarding safety or tolerability of the infant formula with the proposed nutrient source. The study also provided further supporting evidence for the bioavailability of calcium l‐methylfolate. The Panel considers that calcium l‐methylfolate is a source from which folate is bioavailable and concludes that calcium l‐methylfolate is safe under the proposed uses and use levels for infants and young children.

Potential consumer exposures to low/no calorie sweeteners: a refined assessment based upon market intelligence on use frequency, and consideration of niche applications

Data on current use levels of E950 acesulfame K, E952 cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salts, E954 saccharin and its Na, K and Ca salts, E955 sucralose and E957 thaumatin, have been collected by the European food and drink industry in response to an EFSA call for data in support of its upcoming review of low/no calorie sweeteners (LNCSs). Careful evaluation of these data is necessary to allow for reasonably realistic estimations of consumer intake. Consumer patterns of product use and in particular of "niche" products, which are not likely to represent general LNCS exposure, are important to consider. Market survey data can identify food categories where the frequency of use of a given LNCS is so low as to represent a niche use of the product. The subsequent incorporation of information about these niche products can provide a relevant improvement in obtaining realistic exposure calculations. Using this approach, estimates of exposure are found to be comparable with previously published papers on intake and show levels generally below current ADIs, for most population groups.

Human dietary exposure assessment to newly expressed proteins in GM foods

EFSA carries out the risk assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) submitted under Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 and Regulation (EU) 503/2013. Dietary exposure is an essential element of the risk assessment on genetically modified (GM) foods. Dietary exposure estimations should cover average and high consumers across all the different age classes and special population groups and identify and consider particular consumer groups with expected higher exposure. This EFSA statement provides guidance on how human dietary exposure to newly expressed proteins in GM foods should be estimated using a deterministic model that makes use of the available information. Summary statistics of consumption of foods containing, consisting of and produced from crops relevant for the assessment of GMO applications are available in the EFSA website together with different factors to convert the reported consumption of processed foods into raw primary commodities. Guidance is also provided on how concentration data of newly expressed proteins, typically determined in raw primary commodities, should be used (materials to be analysed, growth stage, descriptive statistics to be used, etc.). An overview of the different uncertainties linked to the dietary exposure estimations is provided, informing on the strengths and limitations of the assessment. The document also describes the information applicants need to provide on human dietary exposure to allow EFSA doing an appropriate evaluation of the assessment provided as part of the application dossiers.

The potential application of European market research data in dietary exposure modelling of food additives

Consumer exposure assessments for food additives are incomplete without information about the proportions of foods in each authorised category that contain the additive. Such information has been difficult to obtain but the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) provides information about product launches across Europe over the past 20 years. These data can be searched to identify products with specific additives listed on product labels and the numbers compared with total product launches for food and drink categories in the same database to determine the frequency of occurrence. There are uncertainties associated with the data but these can be managed by adopting a cautious and conservative approach. GNPD data can be mapped with authorised food categories and with food descriptions used in the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Surveys Database for exposure modelling. The data, when presented as percent occurrence, could be incorporated into the EFSA ANS Panel's 'brand-loyal/non-brand loyal exposure model in a quantitative way. Case studies of preservative, antioxidant, colour and sweetener additives showed that the impact of including occurrence data is greatest in the non-brand loyal scenario. Recommendations for future research include identifying occurrence data for alcoholic beverages, linking regulatory food codes, FoodEx and GNPD product descriptions, developing the use of occurrence data for carry-over foods and improving understanding of brand loyalty in consumer exposure models.

The safety of nanostructured synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) as a food additive (E 551)

KEY MESSAGES

Particle sizes of E 551 products are in the micrometre range. The typical external diameters of the constituent particles (aggregates) are greater than 100 nm. E 551 does not break down under acidic conditions such as in the stomach, but may release dissolved silica in environments with higher pH such as the intestinal tract. E 551 is one of the toxicologically most intensively studied substances and has not shown any relevant systemic or local toxicity after oral exposure. Synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) meeting the specifications for use as a food additive (E 551) is and has always been produced by the same two production methods: the thermal and the wet processes, resulting in E 551 products consisting of particles typically in the micrometre size range. The constituent particles (aggregates) are typically larger than 100 nm and do not contain discernible primary particles. Particle sizes above 100 nm are necessary for E 551 to fulfil its technical function as spacer between food particles, thus avoiding the caking of food particles. Based on an in-depth review of the available toxicological information and intake data, it is concluded that the SAS products specified for use as food additive E 551 do not cause adverse effects in oral repeated-dose studies including doses that exceed current OECD guideline recommendations. In particular, there is no evidence for liver toxicity after oral intake. No adverse effects have been found in oral fertility and developmental toxicity studies, nor are there any indications from in vivo studies for an immunotoxic or neurotoxic effect. SAS is neither mutagenic nor genotoxic in vivo. In intact cells, a direct interaction of unlabelled and unmodified SAS with DNA was never found. Differences in the magnitude of biological responses between pyrogenic and precipitated silica described in some in vitro studies with murine macrophages at exaggerated exposure levels seem to be related to interactions with cell culture proteins and cell membranes. The in vivo studies do not indicate that there is a toxicologically relevant difference between SAS products after oral exposure. It is noted that any silicon dioxide product not meeting established specifications, and/or produced to provide new functionality in food, requires its own specific safety and risk assessment.