2025-04 Safety of food additives is carefully assessed by EFSA

Food additives are subject to an assessment of their safety before they are permitted for use in foods and beverages. In accordance with EU legislation, the assessment shall be carried on single additives.[1] However, this should not be interpreted as the EU legislator failing to address combined exposures appropriately. EFSA adapts the risk assessment strategy to the nature of the additive, as exemplified in the Guidance on the preparation of an application for authorisation of a food additive.[2]

In March 2019, EFSA has developed a harmonised framework to use when evaluating the potential “combined effects” of chemical mixtures in food and feed.[3] The approach gives EFSA’s scientists the tools to follow a mixtures approach when needed, which complements the current EU regulatory requirements for assessing single substances.

Different conclusions about the safety or health effects of certain food additives derived from observational research should be interpreted carefully, as observational research cannot prove cause-and-effect and can be prone to risk of bias, while safety assessments of specialty food ingredients are based on a comprehensive risk assessment.

For more information, download our dedicated brochures:

• The EU assessment of food chemical mixtures (2022)
• Focus on food additives and their potential combined uses (2025)
• Safety assessment of specialty food ingredients: consideration of epidemiological observational studies

 

[1] Regulation (EC) 1331/2008 establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02008R1331-20210327&qid=1742919679223

[2] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2760 – currently being updated by EFSA

[3] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/190325