German database on the occurrence of food additives: application for intake estimation of five food colours for toddlers and children

Abstract

To get a more realistic estimation of food additive intake for toddlers and children, a German database on the occurrence of food additives was created. It uses consumption data of two recent national nutrition surveys for toddlers and children in combination with qualitative information of food additive occurrence in the consumed food. The information on food additive occurrence is based on food labelling. A categorisation system was developed according to regulations to classify the foods consumed and to identify possible food additive use in the food groups. Two natural (E120, E160b) and three artificial food colours (E110, E124, E129) were chosen for an assessment of food additive intake. The percentage of food items containing one of the chosen food colours was calculated for every food group and the food groups with most items containing the additive were identified. Intake estimations were performed based on maximum permitted-use levels (MPLs). Firstly, additive use was assumed in all foods consumed (tier 2); and secondly, food additive use was assumed only for those items where labelling confirmed the use and for all foods with no labelling available (tier 2b). Intake estimations were then compared with the ADI. Most food items with at least one of the food colours were found in the food groups confectionary, desserts, fermented milk products, flavoured drinks and breakfast cereals. The tier 2b approach provided more realistic estimations, which were always below those of the tier 2 approach and below the ADI for mean exposure. Exposure for high-level consumers exceeded the ADI for two of the food additives in tier 2b. Keeping in mind that the database is only mirroring the current situation, it provides a good possibility to refine the estimation of food additive intake for toddlers and children in Germany.

Exposure estimate for FD&C colour additives for the US population

“…Studies conducted in India (Rao et al 2004; Dixit et al 2011), Hong Kong (Lok et al 2010), Germany (Diouf et al 2014), Kuwait (Husain et al 2006; Sawaya et al 2008), Ireland (Connolly et al 2010) and Brazil (Toledo et al 1992) have focused on exposure to colour additives in children and/or adolescents. Finally, there have been studies in other countries that are specific for a certain colour additive.…”

Dietary exposure of the Belgian adult population to 70 food additives with numerical ADI

“…Verger et al (1998) have made the same conclusions. Diouf et al (2014) however have found a potential risk for annatto for children and toddlers with Tier 2 and for toddlers with the refined Tier 2 approach. Consequently further assessment of these additives for the Belgian adult population was found unnecessary, but should certainly be envisaged for youngsters.…”

“…Risk assessment of food additives has been performed in several European Member States (Bemrah, Leblanc, & Volatier, 2008;Bemrah et al 2012;Connolly et al 2010;Diouf et al 2014;Leclercq, Molinaro, et al,2000;Mischek & Krapfenbauer-Cermak, 2012;Verger, Chambolle, Babayou, Le Breton, & Volatier, 1998;Vin et al, 2013). In Belgium specifically, exposure assessments of the population to benzoates, nitrates and nitrites, sulphites, lycopene, and artificial sweeteners have recently been performed (Bilau, Matthys, Vinkx, & De Henauw, 2008;Huvaere, Vandevijvere, Hasni, Vinkx, & Van Loco, 2012;Temme et al 2011;Vandevijvere et al 2009Vandevijvere et al , 2010Vandevijvere et al, 2014.)…”

Refined exposure assessment for Ponceau 4R (E 124)

“…A recent German study (Diouf et al, 2014) estimated Ponceau 4R (E 124) intake for toddlers (0.5 to <5 years old) and children (6-11 years old) according to two exposure scenarios. Results showed that the dietary exposure to the food additive was in the range of 0.3 mg/kg bw per day (mean) to 2.6 mg/kg bw per day (high level consumers) for toddlers, and in the range of 0.2 mg/kg bw per day (mean) to 2.3 mg/kg bw per day (high level consumers) for children (6-11 years old).…”