Catch up with the presentation recording below, along with additional information discussed on the Sept. 23, 2021 virtual meeting.
Questions? Please contact Jim Griffiths, Ph.D. (jgriffiths@crnusa.org).
Euro News - Latest Restrictions & New Opportunities for Food Supplements
Hear from RNI Consulting's Keval Bhoola, Medical Affairs Consultant; Léa Trichelot, Regulatory Affairs Consultant; and Anne-Claire Thiboult, Manager, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs
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Also discussed on the call:
Ethylene Oxide
European countries are facing more ethylene oxide related recalls after the substance was detected in a food additive used in a range of products. Belgium first raised the alarm in September 2020 about ethylene oxide in products from India with sesame seeds. These related recalls are still continuing with thousands of conventional and organic items with long shelf life dates such as cereals, chocolate, biscuits, bread, crackers, spices, and bagels affected. The substance was used to reduce or eliminate microbiological contamination with Salmonella. The use of ethylene oxide for disinfection of food is not permitted in Europe. Experts said that there is no safe level of exposure for consumers in products that contain the additive known to be contaminated with ethylene oxide and any level people may be faced with presents a potential risk. This means food or feed businesses who have put such products on the EU market need to withdraw and recall them.
Titanium Dioxide
The Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) confirmed the inclusion of Titanium Dioxide in the JECFA list of substances for evaluation, giving it the highest priority. This decision received the full support of Australia, Canada, Colombia, EU, Peru, UK, and USA who submitted written comments in favor of this review prior to the meeting. The EU notably clarified that the ‘food additive will be banned in the EU and the EU will soon inform its trading partners on the measures to be taken.” The EU ban is expected to be announced this month (September 2021) with a likely entry into force from January 2022. Australia highlighted the significant potential for trade disruption due to EU action but recognized that in the absence of recent risk assessment by FAO/WHO bodies, there is uncertainty regarding the safety of the additive. With regards to timing, JECFA clarified that its first action would be to establish criteria for the data which is necessary for the re-evaluation of the additive (most likely in 2022), issue a call for data in 2023, leading to an assessment in 2024. To the question raised by Australia whether this assessment could be accelerated given the potential global trade disruption, JECFA responded that they will do their very best to reduce this timeline.