A group of food additives called beta-carotenes are used to add a yellow colour to foods like soft drinks, confectionary and cakes. At the Codex Committee on Food Additives meeting in Hong Kong, SAR, China from 27-31 March 2023, beta-cartones have been included on the priority list of additives with the mandate to evaluate the exposure to these food additives by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). This request results from a concern that was raised in the Committee about the uses and use levels that were reported to JECFA for the exposure assessment of these additives, compared to those reported to the electronic working group on the General Standard for Food Additive, ahead of the session.

Valerie Rayner (pictured left) and Nicola Leinwetter are attending the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) on behalf of the Natural Food Colours Association (NATCOL), a Codex Observer. NATCOL represents the international interests of companies and associations which provide natural food colours for the food, feed and related industries.

“We're obviously a responsible producer and we want to ensure that our products are used in a safe way,” said Rayner.

Markus Lipp, FAO said: “We much appreciate the support of Codex Members and Observers to ensure consistency of data submitted to JECFA and to the electronic working groups of Codex Alimentarius, as it will facilitate the accuracy of and trust in the work of Codex Alimentarius.”

The meeting heard that data will become available in 2025. “We will be contacting all of the user associations and perhaps Member Countries to try and collect data about where these colours are being used and at what levels,” said Rayner.

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An ADI is an estimate of the amount of an additive in food or drinking water that can be safely consumed daily over a lifetime without adverse health effects.

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CCFA53 meeting page

JECFA

Photo credit © FAO/Codex

Valerie Rayner (pictured left) and Nicola Leinwetter at CCFA53, March 38 2023