Brussels, 07/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 6 April, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the first in a series of opinions on flavouring products which are added to foods to give a “smoked” flavour. The EFSA scientific group came to the conclusion that the use of the flavouring product Smoke Concentrate 809045 was not of safety concern. It did, however, express safety concerns over the use of two other flavouring products - Unismoke and Zesti Smoke Code 10.
EFSA analysed the effect of cumulative exposure to the different flavouring products in different categories of food, based on the proposed uses and use levels supplied by the manufacturers. The results of the analysis show that exposure for Unismoke is mainly through meat and meat products as well as soups and sauces. For Zesti Smoke Code 10, exposure is through meat and meat products, fish and fish products, composite foods (such as casseroles and meat pies) and processed fruits and vegetables. For Smoke Concentrate 809405, exposure is through meat and meat products, soups, sauces, protein products and ready-to-east savouries.
Studies have shown that Unismoke and Zesti Smoke Code 10 caused adverse health effects in rats above certain intake levels. Due to the absence of data on reproduction and developmental toxicity and the lack of long-term studies on these two flavouring products, the scientific panel concluded that the uses and use levels specified by their manufacturers would require larger margins of safety. Smoke Concentrate 809045 was found to cause no adverse health effects in rats at the highest levels tested.
Smoking is traditionally used to help preserve certain foods such as dairy products, fish and meat. Over time, changes to the flavour of foods brought about by smoking have become more important than its preservative function. Smoke flavourings are now added to change the flavour of various foods, including many which are not traditionally smoked. The European Commission has asked EFSA to assess the safety of the smoke flavourings that are used or intended for use in the EU in order to draw up a list of authorised flavouring products. EFSA is due to publish opinions on eight further smoke flavourings by the end of 2009. (L.C./transl.jl)