8 August, 2016

Nutritional Advisors, What are “food additives”? Which ones are authorized?

 

As nutritional advisors, we know and determine which additives can be used

Food additives are substances that are added to foods to improve their color, texture, taste or simply, for preservation for a longer period of time.

In Spain, they are legally considered as additives to those substances intentionally added to food to improve their physical properties, taste, preservation, etc., but not to those added in order to increase their nutritional value. Therefore, as nutritional advisors, we must determine which additive can or should be used in each food supplement. Additives and auxiliary manufacturing agents will not be considered in cases where the added substance is eliminated or the amount left in the food has no function.

Additives in general (dyes, sweeteners and others) are defined chemical substances, which must be previously authorized by a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council. Likewise, its use is established by Commission Directives the Identity and Purity Standards of the additives. These standards include the concepts of definition, description, determination, identification or purity, among others.

Also, on the website of the Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition, Aecosan, you can find a series of specific additive guides that will allow you to verify your authorization. Does the same thing happen with aromas? As for the Aroma Identification Code, it should be noted that for their designation in the list of ingredients of a food, they do not have No. E as the additives.

In this case, these types of substances are indicated by the term aroma (s), accompanied by a more specific designation or description of the aroma as indicated in Annex III of Royal Decree 1334/1999 of July 31 (BOE August 24, 1999 ), which approves the General Standard for labeling, presentation and advertising of food products.

As a food safety consultancy, at LegaleGo Food Consulting, we identify and help manufacturers identify additives. In the food supplement label, the additive being used must also be correctly identified.