Food additives
Should I be concerned about them and why are they used?
Food additives are substances added to food to maintain or improve its safety, freshness, taste, texture, or appearance. In the European Union, these substances are strictly regulated, and all additives must pass rigorous safety evaluations before being approved for use in food.
What are food additives used for?
Food additives come in many forms, ranging from preservatives and sweeteners to emulsifiers and food colours. They are essential for food production, ensuring products remain safe and in good conditions as they travel through the food supply chain from factories to our plates.
Examples include:
- Preservatives: nitrates and nitrites in meat, fish and cheese products
- Enhanceners: sulphur dioxide in wine, which preserves flavour
- Colours: Natural or synthetic food dyes that enhance a product's visual appeal
- Thickeners: Xanthan gum (E 415), often found in sauces.
How are consumers protected?
Before any new additive or proposed new use of an existing additive can be authorised, the Scientists at EFSA conduct a rigorous evaluation to assess its safety for human consumption. This process examines how the additive interacts with food, its potential effects on the human body, and the maximum levels considered safe for daily consumption. In addition to assessing new additives, EFSA regularly re-evaluates those already permitted to ensure they continue to meet current safety standards.
Once an additive is authorised by the European Commission, if used, it must appear on the food label. This ensures consumers know exactly what they’re eating and empowers them to make informed choices about the food they consume.
All food additives are evaluated to ensure they are safe to consume. Consumers can trust that these substances meet strict safety standards.
Camilla Smeraldi, a toxicologist at EFSA.
How to identify additives on food labels
Additives are always included in the ingredient list. Look for:
- Function: Why the additive is used (e.g., thickener, colorant).
- Identification: Either the additive’s E number (e.g., E 450) or its specific name (e.g., Disodium Diphosphate).
Food additives are always included in the ingredient lists of foods in which they are used.
Product labels must identify both the function of the additive in the finished food (e.g. colour, preservative) and the specific substance used either by referring to the appropriate E number or its name (e.g. E 415 or Xanthan gum).
