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IFAC* Statement on the Importance of Food Additives

A recent article in Men’s Health suggested that food additives are unsafe and recommended consumers avoid certain food additives. Food additives are important to the production of safe and nutritious foods and beverages. Additives can provide nutrition, maintain product quality or freshness, aid in the processing and preparation of food, minimize worldwide food waste, and make food appealing. Their quantities in food are small, yet their impact is great. Without additives, we would lack the abundant and varied foods that we enjoy today.

Food additives undergo extensive safety testing before they can be used in foods and beverages. Before approval, food additives are subjected to a rigorous scientific evaluation program, in accordance with guidelines established by regulatory and scientific bodies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plays an important role in determining food additive safety, by evaluating appropriate studies conducted. Additionally, food additives are evaluated by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), a Committee of scientists from around the word.

The article cited ten additives to avoid, including carrageenan. The weight of the scientific evidence demonstrates that carrageenan is not carcinogenic, as observed in a variety of species, including rats, hamsters, monkeys, and mice. In these species, carrageenan has been shown to pass through the digestive system, unabsorbed and without degradation. The few studies that have suggested potential harmful effects have not been conducted in a manner that is applicable to humans, nor are they appropriate for use in regulatory safety evaluations. JECFA, an independent body of global food scientists, has categorized carrageenan in the highest level of safety to which a food additive can be assigned, indicating there is no concern about its safety.

Based on this information and on other scientific evaluations of approved food additives, IFAC disagrees with the suggestions made in the recent article on food additives in the Men’s Health publication.

* The International Food Additives Council (IFAC) is an international association representing companies that produce high quality substances used worldwide as food additives and food ingredients. IFAC strives to promote science-based regulation worldwide.