A European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) expert group has raised concerns about tests used by the food industry to measure how much consumers are exposed to flavourings during market safety trials.
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In a study of flavourings including aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic ethers (plus anisole derivatives), the EFSA’s scientific panel on food additives criticised Maximised Survey-derived Daily Intakes (MSDIs) methods, looking at average consumption of a flavouring.
The panel, which also looks at flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food, said that by taking into account people never eating a product, tests could “grossly underestimate the intake by regular consumers”.
The panel used a modified Theoretical Added Maximum Daily Intake (mTAMDI) approach based on normal reported personal consumption levels, and found intakes “exceeded the threshold” for safe consumption.
