Re‐evaluation of calcium silicate (E 552), magnesium silicate (E 553a(i)), magnesium trisilicate (E 553a(ii)) and talc (E 553b) as food additives

Sammanfattning

The EFSA Panelon Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provides a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of calcium silicate (E552), magnesium silicate (E553a) and talc (E553b) when used as food additives. In 1991, the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) established a group acceptable daily intake (ADI) not specified' for silicon dioxide and silicates. The EFSA Panelon Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) recently provided a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of silicon dioxide (E551) when used as a food additive. The Panelnoted that the absorption of silicates and talc was very low; there was no indication for genotoxicity or developmental toxicity for calcium and magnesium silicate and talc; and no confirmed cases of kidney effects have been found in the EudraVigilance database despite the wide and long-term use of high doses of magnesium trisilicate up to 4g/person per day over decades. However, the Panelconsidered that accumulation of silicon from calcium silicate in the kidney and liver was reported in rats, and reliable data on subchronic and chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity of silicates and talc were lacking. Therefore, the Panelconcluded that the safety of calcium silicate (E552), magnesium silicate (E553a(i)), magnesium trisilicate (E553a(ii)) and talc (E553b) when used as food additives cannot be assessed. The Panelconsidered that there is no mechanistic rationale for a group ADI for silicates and silicon dioxide and the group ADI established by the SCF is obsolete. Based on the food supplement scenario considered as the most representative for risk characterisation, exposure to silicates (E552-553) for all population groups was below the maximum daily dose of magnesium trisilicate used as an antacid (4g/person per day). The Panelnoted that there were a number of approaches, which could decrease the uncertainties in the current toxicological database. These approaches include - but are not limited to - toxicological studies as recommended for a Tier 1 approach as described in the EFSA Guidance for the submission of food additives and conducted with an adequately characterised material. Some recommendations for the revision of the EU specifications were proposed by the Panel.

Nyckelord

calcium silicate; E552; magnesium silicate; magnesium trisilicate; E553 degrees; Talc; E553b

Publicerad i

EFSA Journal
2018, Volym: 16, nummer: 8, artikelnummer: 5375

SLU författare

• Oskarsson, Agneta

  • Institutionen för husdjurens biovetenskaper, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5375

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96776