Strasbourg, 18/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - When consulted in second reading according to codecision procedure on the Council's "common position" with a view to amending the 1995 directive on food additives other than colourings and sweeteners, the Parliament decided, unlike the Council, not to include sodium alginate among the authorised additives, a product used for preventing pre-prepared carrots from going white or losing their firmness. The use of such an additive (which, when combined with others like cellulose, for example, could be harmful) could mislead consumers by giving the impression that the product bought is fresher than it really is, said the rapporteur, co-president of the Greens Group, Paul Lannoye.
We recall that the amendment made to the directive provides for the authorisation of other additives -hydrogen, zinc acetate, for example - but does not authorise the use of cellulose ester as a new food additive. We also recall that the European Commission is preparing to review the list of authorised food additives, of which there are currently 307. A communiqué from the Greens Group notes that, out of these additives, 144 may be considered as not presenting any guarantees that they are risk-free, mainly regarding the risk of cumulated effect.