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.
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.