Back to Article List

Commission authorises food additives in spreadable fresh soft cheese products

European Union

Oct 07, 2024

With implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2608 of 7 October 2024, the Commission amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use of powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)) and glucono-delta-lactone (E 575) in unripened soft spreadable cheese products.

Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission has to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, except where the update in question is not liable to have an effect on human health.

On 16 January 2018, the Authority published a scientific opinion re-evaluating among others the safety of powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)) as a food additive. The Authority concluded that there was no need for a numerical ‘acceptable daily intake’ (ADI) and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses (E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461–466, E 468 and E 469). Such conclusion is reached for substances of a very low safety concern and only if there is reliable information for both exposure and toxicity and there is a low probability of adverse health effects in humans at doses that do not induce nutritional imbalance in animals.

Since the use of powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)) as a stabiliser and of glucono-delta-lactone (E 575) as an acidity regulator in unripened soft spreadable cheese products is not liable to have an effect on human health, it is not necessary to seek the opinion of the Authority.

Therefore, Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 should be amended accordingly

 

For further information (in English), click on the Link

Related Articles
See All News
Subscribe to our newsletter

The best industry insight in your mailbox

®