Comparison of food colour regulations in the EU and the US: a review of current provisions

Abstract

This review describes the European Union and the US regulations applicable to food colours. Despite the different regulatory frameworks, the overall approach is similar, based on wellestablished risk-assessment procedures and risk-management measures. However, differences impacting free movement of goods can be found in the details and implementation of regulations. Using additives approved only in the US or in the EU implies that producers aiming to export need to adjust their product composition to the export market. Failure to comply may give rise to claims of adulteration, misbranding or non-compliance and rejection at the border or recall from the market. A careful comparison of the level of protection provided by the two sets of regulations, the criteria of good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspections and the certification requirements could be key to aligning the rules and to negotiating mutual recognition agreements. This review provides an extensive overview of the similarities and differences in regulating food colours in the EU and the US. ARTICLE HISTORY

An Overview of Carotenoids, Apocarotenoids, and Vitamin A in Agro‐Food, Nutrition, Health, and Disease

“…[29,30] Several carotenoids, including β-carotene and lycopene, are approved as food colorants. [31,32] Additionally, carotenoids are consumed in the form of nutritional supplements to increase their intake and to ensure an intake of those that are not usually present in common foods. [18]…”

All You Can Feed: Some Comments on Production of Mouse Diets Used in Biomedical Research with Special Emphasis on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Research

“…Fast Green FCF (FD&C Green No. 3, E143) is a FDA-approved triphenylmethane dye, while its usage as a food dye is prohibited in the EU [168]. When administered orally 200 mg of this dye to rats, the dye was excreted unchanged in the faeces and no dye was found in the urine [169].…”

“…Testings in mice showed that the feeding of diets containing 3% Citurs Red 2 caused increased morbidity and mortality in both sexes [183]. Based on a number of similar reports suggesting that Citrus Red 2 has carcinogenic effects, the FDA approved this dye only for limited applications such as coloring the peel of oranges, while in the EU it is not permitted at all [168]. However, there it was recommended that this dye should not be used as a food additive [184].…”

Simultaneous Determination of Synthetic Food Dyes Using a Single Cartridge for Preconcentration and Separation Followed by Photometric Detection

“…Almost all of them are not harmless and have varying degrees of toxicity associated with allergic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects. Maximum permitted levels of food dyes are steadily decreasing and now have reached 0.01 g of a dye per 100 g of a foodstuff [2]. erefore, their content in food products is strictly regulated and requires permanent monitoring.…”