EFSA says carotenoid colouring use ‘not of safety concern’
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for apocarotenal – a carotenoid used as a food colouring – concluding that current food industry usage does not pose a safety concern.
EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) had previously re-evaluated the safety of β-apo-8′-carotenal (E 160e) and established an ADI of 0.05 mg per kilogram of bodyweight. Taking into account a new 13-week rat study that examined the effect of high intakes on kidney health, the food safety body revised the ADI to allow a higher intake of 0.3 mg per kilogram of bodyweight, building in an uncertainty factor of 100.
Apocarotenal provides an orange to orange-red colour and is used in fat-based foods like margarine, sauces and salad dressings, as well as in beverages, dairy products and sweets.
EFSA’s full scientific opinion is available online here.
