ANSES: ‘We have questions about nanomaterials In light of the recent ruling concerning titanium dioxide, French authorities have cast the net wider and urged caution over the use of nanomaterials in food as well as in antibacterial products.
In a recent interview, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety’s (ANSES) Aurélie Niaudet reiterated its stance on products containing nanomaterials due to persistent unknowns.
“It is clear that there are still many grey areas regarding population exposure to nanomaterials and the potential impact on health and the environment,” says Niaudet, who is based at the agency’s physical risk assessment unit.
ANSES: ‘We have questions about nanomaterials In light of the recent ruling concerning titanium dioxide, French authorities have cast the net wider and urged caution over the use of nanomaterials in food as well as in antibacterial products.
In a recent interview, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety’s (ANSES) Aurélie Niaudet reiterated its stance on products containing nanomaterials due to persistent unknowns.
“It is clear that there are still many grey areas regarding population exposure to nanomaterials and the potential impact on health and the environment,” says Niaudet, who is based at the agency’s physical risk assessment unit.
Indonesia - The Netherlands improves cooperation on plant pests risk analysis
The Netherlands’ Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (NVWA) collaborated with Indonesia’s Center for Plant Quarantine and Biological Safety (KTKHN) in an effort to increase the agricultural quarantine officials’ competence in analyzing the risk of plant pests (AROPT) through a series of online workshop held from April to May 2021.
The online workshop featured speakers from NVWA, followed by officials from the KTKHN and 52 technical implementing units within the KTKHN, discussing pest risk analysis (plant-disturbing organisms quarantine) on agricultural commodities to avoid damage on the agricultural sector, which may pose an impact to a country’s economy.
EFSA rules additive as ‘not safe’ for use in food supplements A food additive routinely used in food supplements as a colourant has been deemed unsafe by European authorities due to genotoxic links and long-term effects arising from its accumulation in the body.
In an updated evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), its scientists could not come to any firm conclusions about Titanium dioxide (E171) nor could they rule out certain health concerns based on new data.
“Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive,” says Professor Maged Younes, Chair of EFSA’s expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF).
The European Commission’s (EU) proposals to better regulate e-commerce will inevitably have repercussions on the food and nutrition sector and the specialised products it sells on online platforms.