The EU Specialty Food Ingredients’ paper explains that epidemiological observational studies lack control over exposures and confounding variables , and therefore cannot prove cause-and-effect relationships between a food ingredient and human health. They are used to identify correlations and develop hypothesis in order to address further research that proves cause-and-effect. They can be used in the scientific risk assessment of a food ingredient only under the condition of a robust examination of potential biases. The safety of specialty food ingredients is based on a comprehensive risk assessment.

 

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