The EU regulation on Food Additives
EU regulation – Food Additives
EU Regulation on Food Additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) sets out rules on using food additives, such as preservatives, colourings, and sweeteners, in foodstuffs marketed in the EU. The regulation establishes a positive list of authorized food additives and specifies the conditions of use for each additive. The list of authorized food additives is regularly reviewed and updated based on new scientific evidence and technological advances.
- An E number is used to identify all the food additives in the EU. On the product label, the additive is either mentioned as the E number or the name of the additive.
- An ingredient list in the EU must include food additives.
- The regulation establishes maximum permitted levels for certain food additives to ensure their safe use in foodstuffs.
- In addition, food additives must be safe, technologically necessary, and beneficial to the consumer. They should not mislead the consumer [1].
Overall, the regulation aims to ensure the safety of food additives and protect consumers’ health while promoting the free movement of safe and wholesome foodstuffs within the EU market.