How are food additives tested by the FSA to prove they are safe to use?
It doesn’t make for nice reading. I don’t know why additives are so essential any way. Probably to prolong shelf life, ‘improve flavour’ etc – in other words to make money for manufacturers. It looks as if the testing is funded by the FSA. The research to show the additive is safe must include tests in which animals are given the additive, mixed with their diet, but at much higher concentrations than will occur in human food. The tests are designed to give information on any possible effects from short-term or long-term exposure to the proposed additive, including whether it may have any potential to cause cancer, or to affect reproductive processes or the development of the embryo or the foetus if consumed by a pregnant woman. Tests are also carried out to assess its ability to interfere with genetic material in the body, which could lead to the development of cancer or adverse effects in future generations. The results of the safety tests are assessed by independent experts – indepen
