Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 10, Revision 3 (FGE.10Rev3): Aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones from chemical groups 9, 13 and 30

Scientific opinion on the renewal of the authorisation of proFagus Smoke R709 (SF-008) as a smoke flavouring Primary Product

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to evaluate the safety of the smoke flavouring Primary Product proFagus Smoke R709 (SF-008), for which a renewal application was submitted in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2065/2003. This opinion refers to the assessment of data submitted on chemical characterisation, dietary exposure and genotoxicity of the Primary Product. ProFagus Smoke R709 is obtained by pyrolysis of beech and oak wood as main source materials. The panel concluded that the compositional data provided on the Primary Product are adequate. At the maximum proposed use levels, dietary exposure estimates calculated with DietEx ranged from 0.8 to 12.2 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day at the mean and from 2.3 to 51.4 mg/kg bw per day at the 95th percentile. The Panel concluded that three components in the Primary Product raise a potential concern for genotoxicity. In addition, a potential concern for genotoxicity was identified for the unidentified part of the mixture. The Primary Product contains furan-2(5H)-one, for which a concern for genotoxicity was identified in vivo upon oral administration. Considering that the exposure estimates for this component are above the TTC of 0.0025 μg/kg bw per day for DNA-reactive mutagens and/or carcinogens, the panel concluded that the Primary Product raises concern with respect to genotoxicity.

Scientific opinion on the renewal of the authorisation of proFagus Smoke R714 (SF-001) as a smoke flavouring Primary Product

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to evaluate the safety of the smoke flavouring Primary Product proFagus Smoke R714 (SF-001), for which a renewal application was submitted in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2065/2003. This opinion refers to the assessment of data submitted on chemical characterisation, dietary exposure and genotoxicity of the Primary Product. ProFagus Smoke R714 is obtained by pyrolysis of beech and oak woods as main source materials. Based on the compositional data, the Panel noted that the identified and quantified proportion of the solvent-free fraction amounts to 39 weight (wt)%, thus the applied method does not meet the legal quality criterion that at least 50% of the solvent-free fraction shall be identified and quantified. At the maximum proposed use levels, dietary exposure estimates calculated with DietEx ranged from 0.7 to 10.9 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day at the mean and from 2.2 to 42.5 mg/kg bw per day at the 95th percentile. The Panel concluded that three components in the Primary Product raise a potential concern for genotoxicity. In addition, a potential concern for genotoxicity was identified for the unidentified part of the mixture. The Primary Product contains furan-2(5H)-one, for which a concern for genotoxicity was identified in vivo upon oral administration. Considering that the exposure estimates for this component are above the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) of 0.0025 μg/kg bw per day for DNA-reactive mutagens and/or carcinogens, the Panel concluded that the Primary Product raises concern with respect to genotoxicity.

Plasticized Mechanical Recycled PLA Films Reinforced with Microbial Cellulose Particles Obtained from Kombucha Fermented in Yerba Mate Waste

In this study, yerba mate waste (YMW) was used to produce a kombucha beverage, and the obtained microbial cellulose produced as a byproduct (KMW) was used to reinforce a mechanically recycled poly(lactic acid) (r-PLA) matrix. Microbial cellulosic particles were also produced in pristine yerba mate for comparison (KMN). To simulate the revalorization of the industrial PLA products rejected during the production line, PLA was subjected to three extrusion cycles, and the resultant pellets (r3-PLA) were then plasticized with 15 wt.% of acetyl tributyl citrate ester (ATBC) to obtain optically transparent and flexible films by the solvent casting method. The plasticized r3-PLA-ATBC matrix was then loaded with KMW and KMN in 1 and 3 wt.%. The use of plasticizer allowed a good dispersion of microbial cellulose particles into the r3-PLA matrix, allowing us to obtain flexible and transparent films which showed good structural and mechanical performance. Additionally, the obtained films showed antioxidant properties, as was proven by release analyses conducted in direct contact with a fatty food simulant. The results suggest the potential interest of these recycled and biobased materials, which are obtained from the revalorization of food waste, for their industrial application in food packaging and agricultural films.

Value and limitation of structure-based profilers to characterize developmental and reproductive toxicity potential

The uncertainty regarding the safety of chemicals leaching from food packaging triggers attention. In silico models provide solutions for screening of these chemicals, since many are toxicologically uncharacterized. For hazard assessment, information on developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) is needed. The possibility to apply in silico toxicology to identify and quantify DART alerts was investigated. Open-source models and profilers were applied to 195 packaging chemicals and analogues. An approach based on DART and estrogen receptor (ER) binding profilers and molecular docking was able to identify all except for one chemical with documented DART properties. Twenty percent of the chemicals in the database known to be negative in experimental studies were classified as positive. The scheme was then applied to 121 untested chemicals. Alerts were identified for sixteen of them, five being packaging substances, the others structural analogues. Read-across was then developed to translate alerts into quantitative toxicological values. They can be used to calculate margins of exposure (MoE), the size of which reflects safety concern. The application of this approach appears valuable for hazard characterization of toxicologically untested packaging migrants. It is an alternative to the use of default uncertainty factor (UF) applied to animal chronic toxicity value to handle absence of DART data in hazard characterization.

A review on versatile applications of blends and composites of CNC with natural and synthetic polymers with mathematical modeling

Cellulose is world's most abundant, renewable and recyclable polysaccharide on earth. Cellulose is composed of both amorphous and crystalline regions. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are extracted from crystalline region of cellulose. The most attractive feature of CNC is that it can be used as nanofiller to reinforce several synthetic and natural polymers. In this article, a comprehensive overview of modification of several natural and synthetic polymers using CNCs as reinforcer in respective polymer matrix is given. The immense activities of CNCs are successfully utilized to enhance the mechanical properties and to broaden the field of application of respective polymer. All the technical scientific issues have been discussed highlighting the recent advancement in biomedical and packaging field.

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Biocomposites Made of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Potato Pulp Powder

The thermal and mechanical properties of biocomposites of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) containing 5 wt % of valerate units, with 20 wt % of potato pulp powder were investigated in order (i) to obtain information on possible miscibility/compatibility between the biopolymers and the potato pulp, and (ii) to quantify how the addition of this filler modifies the properties of the polymeric material. The potato pulp powder utilized is a residue of processing for the production and extraction of starch. The final aim of this study is the preparation of PHBV based materials with reduced cost, thanks to biomass valorization, in agreement with the circular economy policy, as result of the incorporation of agricultural organic waste. The results showed that the potato pulp powder does not act as reinforcement, but rather as filler for the PHBV polymeric matrix. A moderate loss in mechanical properties is detected (decrease in elastic modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break), which regardless still meets the technical requirements indicated for rigid packaging production. In order to improve the mechanical response of the PHBV/potato pulp powder biocomposites, surface treatment of the potato pulp powder with bio-based and petroleum-based waxes was investigated. Good enhancement of the mechanical properties was achieved with the natural carnauba and bee waxes.

Thermal, Mechanical, and Rheological Properties of Biocomposites Made of Poly(lactic acid) and Potato Pulp Powder

The thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of biocomposites of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with potato pulp powder were investigated in order to (1) quantify how the addition of this filler modifies the structure of the polymeric material and (2) to obtain information on the possible miscibility and compatibility between PLA and the potato pulp. The potato pulp powder utilized is a residue of the processing for the production and extraction of starch. The study was conducted by analyzing the effect of the potato pulp concentration on the thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of the biocomposites. The results showed that the potato pulp powder does not act as reinforcement but as filler for the PLA polymeric matrix. A progressive decrease in elastic modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break was observed with increasing the potato pulp percentage. This moderate loss of mechanical properties, however, still meets the technical requirements indicated for the production of rigid packaging items. The incorporation of potato pulp powder to PLA offers the possibility to reduce the cost of the final products and promotes a circular economy approach for the valorization of agro-food waste biomass.

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 217 Revision 2 (FGE.217Rev2), consideration of genotoxic potential for α,β-unsaturated ketones and precursors from chemical subgroup 4.1 of FGE.19: lactones

The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to evaluate the genotoxic potential of 12 flavouring substances from subgroup 4.1 of FGE.19 in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 217 (FGE.217). Based on experimental data, in previous versions of this FGE (FGE.217 and FGE217Rev1), for 6-methylcoumarin [FL-no: 13.012] and 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methylfuran-2(5H)-one [FL-no: 10.023] the concern for genotoxicity was ruled out. 6-Methylcoumarin was evaluated using the Procedure in FGE.80Rev1. For 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methylfuran-2(5H)-one [FL-no: 10.023] and the structurally related substance 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethylfuran-2(5H)-one [FL-no: 10.030], no further EFSA considerations were needed because these substances were evaluated by JECFA before 2000. Also based on experimental data, in FGE217Rev1, the concern for genotoxicity could not be ruled out for furan-2(5H)-one [FL-no: 10.066] and 3,4-dimethyl-5-pentylidenefuran-2(5H)-one [FL-no: 10.042], which later substance represents the following flavourings: [FL-no: 10.034, 10.036, 10.043, 10.046, 10.054, 10.057, 10.060 and 10.170]. In the current revision of this FGE (FGE217Rev2), based on the results of additional genotoxicity studies, the FAF Panel concluded that [FL-no: 10.066] is genotoxic in vivo. Therefore, furan-2(5H)-one [FL-no: 10.066] cannot be evaluated according to the Procedure. For [FL-no: 10.042] in order to rule out a concern for clastogenicity at site of first contact, the FAF Panel requests results from an in vivo comet assay in duodenum. In addition, [FL-no: 10.042] has also been identified as an aneugenic substance in vitro. Until the concern for clastogenicity at site of first contact for [FL-no: 10.042] and the concern for aneugenicity can be ruled out, this substance and [FL-no: 10.034, 10.036, 10.043, 10.046, 10.054, 10.057, 10.060 and 10.170] cannot be evaluated through the Procedure.

Scientific Opinion of Flavouring Group Evaluation 500 (FGE.500): rum ether

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to deliver a scientific opinion on the implications for human health of the flavouring rum ether [FL-no: 21.001] in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 500 (FGE.500), according to Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 and Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Rum ether is a complex mixture of volatile substances obtained by distillation of the reaction products of pyroligneous acid and ethyl alcohol under oxidative conditions in the presence of manganese dioxide and sulfuric acid. A total of 84 volatile constituents have been reported by the applicant. It is a colourless liquid with a rum-like odour and flavour. Its major uses are in the food categories beverages, confectionery and baked goods. The Panel decided to apply a congeneric group-based approach. The 84 reported constituents were allocated to 12 congeneric groups, based on structural and metabolic similarity. For eight of the congeneric groups, the Panel concluded that there is no safety concern at the intended conditions of use. However, the Panel concluded that substances in congeneric group 1 (ethanol and acetaldehyde) and congeneric group 12 (furan) are carcinogenic and genotoxic. The Panel also identified genotoxicity concerns for substances in congeneric group 3 (3-pentene-2-one). The exposure for congeneric group 10 (ethers of various structures) was above the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) applicable for this group, but a point of departure or health based guidance value that covers all the substances in this group could not be identified. The Panel concluded that according to the overall strategy for the risk assessment of flavouring substances, the presence of genotoxic substances as process-derived constituents of rum ether is of safety concern.

Guidelines for the Assessment of Flavoring Substances in Foods on Health (Guidelines)

The Food Safety Commission of Japan published the new guidelines for the risk assessment of flavoring substances on May 17, 2016. The new guidelines were established on the experiences on the risk assessment of "internationally commonly used flavors", referring to the approach for the risk assessment of flavorings in the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). From now on, the risk assessment of flavoring substances is conducted according to these guidelines.