Safety Assessment on Product E 401 (Sodium Alginate) Used as a Surface Treatment in Entire Fruits and Vegetables (RP290)

Abstract

An application was submitted to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) in February 2021 from Bio Natural Solutions – BNS S.A.C. (‘the Applicant’) for the modification of the conditions of use of sodium alginate (CAS: 9005-38-3), which is an already authorised food additive (E 401), to the surface of entire fresh fruit and vegetables, as a coating to preserve them. The Applicant intends to extend the use of the sodium alginate (E 401) as a coating material within the food category: 4.1.1 ‘Entire fresh fruit and vegetables to include citrus fruit, melons, pineapples, bananas, papayas, mangoes, avocados, pomegranates’ at the level of quantum satis. To support the FSA and FSS in evaluating the dossier the Joint Expert Group on Additives, Enzymes and other regulated products (AEJEG) were asked to review the dossier and the supplementary information from the Applicant. The AEJEG concluded that no risk to health would be presented from this extension of use of E 401 on the basis that the additive was considered of low toxicological concern, as indicated by the European Food Standards Agency’s (EFSA) decision that a numerical ADI was not required. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) also reviewed the AEJEG safety assessment agreeing with the conclusions of the AEJEG. The views of the AEJEG and COT have been taken into account in this safety assessment which represents the opinion of the FSA and FSS on the extension of use of the sodium alginate (E 401) as a coating material in entire fresh fruit and vegetables.