EFSA delivers positive safety verdict on iron additive

Used in food products and supplements as a source of iron, FAP is an inorganic salt containing iron (II), ammonium and phosphate ions.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA delivered a scientific opinion on the bioavailability of iron from FAP and on its safety in food and nutrition products. The safety of iron itself was out of the remit of the investigation

Safe at proposed levels​

With regards to safety, the Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) found that FAP “at the proposed use levels, is not of safety concern provided that established upper safety limits for iron are not exceeded.”​

As for the bioavailability of iron from FAP, the Panel found that it stood within a similar range to other iron salts used for fortification. Specifically its bioavailability is less than that from ferrous sulphate and greater than that from ferric pyrophosphate.

In intended food categories, FAP provides between 0.7 to 14 mg of iron per serving, which corresponds to 5 to 100 per cent of the RDA for iron in adults.

Toxicological data​

No studies evaluating the toxicity of FAP in animals have been conducted but the Panel said it did not believe additional toxicological data on FAP is required.

The Panel explained that FAP dissociates in the stomach into its components, thus releasing ferrous, ammonium and phosphate ions. The scientists said ferrous, ammonium and phosphate salts have been evaluated as food additives and nutrient sources by various bodies and toxicological effects have not been identified.