Re-evaluation of potassium nitrite (E 249) and sodium nitrite (E 250) as food additives.

ABSTRACT: The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provided a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of potassium nitrite (E 249) and sodium nitrite (E 250) when used as food additives. The ADIs established by the SCF (1997) and by JECFA (2002) for nitrite were 0-0.06 and 0-0.07 mg/kg bw per day, respectively. The available information did not indicate in vivo genotoxic potential for sodium and potassium nitrite. Overall, an ADI for nitrite per se could be derived from the available repeated dose toxicity studies in animals, also considering the negative carcinogenicity results. The Panel concluded that an increased methaemoglobin level, observed in human and animals, was a relevant effect for the derivation of the ADI. The Panel, using a BMD approach, derived an ADI

SUBMITTER: EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7009987 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature