Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Apr 1990

Vol. 397 No. 9

Written Answers. - Food Additives.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

287 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health the E additives which have been banned from use or sale or are not permitted for use or sale; if specific additives (details supplied) are banned from use or sale, or are not permitted for use or sale; the colouring, preservatives, emulsifiers and stabilisers, antioxidants, flavouring agents, sweeteners or other categories of additives which have been banned for use or sale, or which are not permitted for use or sale; and the E additives and the non-E additives which have been investigated, tested or analysed by his Department in each year from 1980 to 1990 inclusive.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The food additives controlled by means of specific statutory regulations in this country are colouring agents, preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickening and gelling agents, antioxidants, solvents, mineral hydrocarbons and cyclamate. Broadly speaking the regulations established `permitted lists' of additives and, where appropriate, specify the conditions of use and the maximum permitted levels. Any additive, belonging to any of the aforementioned categories, other than one included in such `permitted lists', is automatically prohibited for use or sale in this country.

The regulations in question with the exception of mineral hydrocarbons, solvents and the sweetener, cyclamate, have the effect of implementing various EC Directives on food additives. Such directives are regularly reviewed and updated to take account of scientific evidence as to the safety in use of and technological need for such additives. On the basis of the results of these reviews, the following additives have been removed from the lists of permitted additives in this country.

Antioxidants:—Diacetyl 5, 6-L Ascorbic Acid (Ascorbylediacetate) (E303).

Colouring Agents: Fast Yellow AB (E105), Orchil or Orcein (E121), Solanthrene Blue RS or Anthragen Blue or Indanthrene Blue (E130), Black 7984 (E152), Burnt Umber (E181), Orange RN, Orange G, Violet 6B, Chocolate Brown FB.

Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents: Ghatti Gum.

In relation to this category of additives, I propose to introduce regulations soon which will ban the use of the following four substances in line with the provisions of EC Council Directive 86/102:—

(1) lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propane-1, 2-diol.

(2) polyoxyethylene (8) stearate.

(3) polyoxyethylene (40) stearate.

(4) dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate.

The particular additives specified by the Deputy are permitted for use in this country in accordance with the relevant statutory controls with the following exceptions — 129 (Allura Red AC), E236 (Formic Acid) and E238 (Calcium Fromate). Regarding the additive, 924 (potassium bromate), which is a flour improving agent, I should point out that while it is not currently regulated in this country, I propose to introduce regulations presently which will have the effect of banning its use. This is on the basis of advice received from the expert advisory body on food safety, ie the Food Safety Advisory Committee.

The use of additives in foodstuffs is kept under constant review by this expert body. In the event of the committee expressing concern about the safety of a particular additive, appropriate action in the interest of public health and safety would be taken.

In addition to the control set down in specific regulations, control over the use of additives is also exercised by my Department under the sale of Food and Drugs Acts and the Food Hygiene Regulations which provide for general protection for the public by prohibiting the sale of food which is adulterated, contaminated or otherwise unfit for human consumption.

Statutory control in relation to foodstuffs generally is enforced by the health boards. Each health board conducts planned food sampling programmes under which different foods are sampled and analysed on a regular basis. Where a sample is found to be in breach of the statutory requirements, the public analyst issues a certificate on the basis of which prosecution proceedings may be taken by the health board.