EFSA backs anti-caking agent safety for salt substitutes

EFSA has backed the safety of an anti-caking agent (Fe mTA) for salt or salt substitutes – but said a new risk assessment would be necessary if the use level or application were to change.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said in its opinion that the complexation product of iron (iii) chloride and sodium tartrates would be safe at the proposed maximum use level of 106 mg per kg of salt.

“The Panel concluded that the toxicity database was insufficient to establish an ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake),” it said, but added that it saw no safety concern for the proposed conditions of use in a product intended as an alternative to other anti-caking agents.

“The Panel noted that this evaluation was based on a limited toxicity database, for a single use resulting in a very low exposure, and therefore concluded that any extension of use and/or use level of Fe mTA, would require a new risk assessment,” it said.