Eurofins labinars: “On the trail” of food additives
At the first Eurofins Food and Feed Testing Hungary Labinar (an online, laboratory-themed webinar) in November, the topic was food additives: how to test them, what regulations apply to their use, how to identify additives on a food label in the list of ingredients.
"A food additive is any natural or artificial compound, whether or not it has nutritional value, which is not normally consumed as a food in itself, is not used as a raw material, but is added to food during preparation, handling, processing, packaging, transport or storage with a view to affecting the organoleptic, chemical, physical and microbiological properties of the product favorably. Its addition has or may have the effect of making itself or its derivative an ingredient of the food," said Dr Márta Dregus, food engineer and COO of Eurofins Food and Feed Testing Budapest Kft., at the beginning of her presentation, giving the definition of food additives. She stressed that it is essential that the food manufacturer uses additive(s) that are included in the list of authorized additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and that the additive used complies with the specifications of Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, which contains the specifications of certain additives. Food manufacturer should also ensure that the food is correctly classified in one of the food categories listed in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 already when developing a new product, as specific additives may be used accordingly. When using additives, one should also take into account the maximum permitted levels for the given additive in the food concerned.
After the definition, the expert spoke in detail about the groups of additives, their regulation, conditions of use and the role of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the safety assessment of additives.
You can find important details here, in the presentation.
Regarding the testing of additives, she pointed out that the international standards of the Codex Alimentarius include a standard on general methods of testing additives (CXS 239-2003), but in addition to the well-established methods (liquid chromatography (HPLC), spectrophotometry, titrimetry, optimized Monier-Williams method), newer methods have been introduced in the testing of additives, such as biosensors, capillary electrophoresis, Raman spectroscopy, etc.
The two laboratories of Eurofins Food and Feed Testing Hungary (in Gyula and in Budapest), in cooperation with other laboratories of the Eurofins Group, can offer a wide range of testing possibilities for food additives . Please contact us and ask for a quote, for help:
https://arajanlat.laboratorium.hu/en/
The presenter also spoke about the labeling of additives, giving examples of labeling (appropriate and inappropriate labeling) and explained that under the so-called Labeling Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, it is possible to indicate the name of the additive or its E-number after the group name. She stressed that for some additives, we should not forget the mandatory indications that must be either linked to the name of the food (e.g. sweeteners) or included in the information on the food label (e.g. polyols, certain colorings).
We would like to thank the audience of the first food labinar for the large number of participants and we would like to draw the attention of all interested parties to the webinar series of Eurofins' two major national laboratories (Eurofins Food and Feed Testing Hungary and Eurofins Environment Testing Hungary ), which will continue in 2025 on the most exciting issues of food safety and environmental protection, key legislative changes and related laboratory testing. Follow our News here!