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Tuzemák, formerly called Tuzemský rum (domestic rum), is a traditional Czech alcoholic beverage which originated in Austria-Hungary as a cheap substitute for rum. It is produced by flavouring ethanol with rum ether, sugar and vanillin. In 2017 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a report on safety of rum ether which caused a stir in the Czech Republic. Conclusions of the study were misinterpreted in a series of articles in Czech newspapers and websites. Notion that ethyl formate is identical to rum ether was one of the erroneous information presented. Rum ether is a complex mixture of volatile substances obtained by distillation of the esterification products of pyroligneous acid (wood vinegar, a by-product of wood pyrolysis) and ethyl alcohol, under oxidative conditions in the presence of sulfuric acid and manganese dioxide. Ethanol, acetic acid and ethyl esters of acetic, formic and propionic acid are the major constituents of the rum ether. The Panel of EFSA experts concluded that some of the minor components of the rum ether (aliphatic alcohols, furan and its derivatives and α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds) are carcinogenic substances and might present health risk. The warning issued by EFSA means that safety of the rum ether should be proven by thorough toxicological testing. The key odorants of the rum differ from major components of the rum ether. The most active odorants in the rum are ethanol, carbonyl compounds (β-damascenone, 3-methylbutanal, diacetyl, vanillin), ethyl esters of higher aliphatic carboxylic acids, lactones, diethyl acetals of aldehydes and phenol derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to deliver a scientific opinion on the implications for human health of the flavouring rum ether [FL-no: 21.001] in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 500 (FGE.500), according to Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 and Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Rum ether is a complex mixture of volatile substances obtained by distillation of the reaction products of pyroligneous acid and ethyl alcohol under oxidative conditions in the presence of manganese dioxide and sulfuric acid. A total of 84 volatile constituents have been reported by the applicant. It is a colourless liquid with a rum-like odour and flavour. Its major uses are in the food categories beverages, confectionery and baked goods. The Panel decided to apply a congeneric group-based approach. The 84 reported constituents were allocated to 12 congeneric groups, based on structural and metabolic similarity. For eight of the congeneric groups, the Panel concluded that there is no safety concern at the intended conditions of use. However, the Panel concluded that substances in congeneric group 1 (ethanol and acetaldehyde) and congeneric group 12 (furan) are carcinogenic and genotoxic. The Panel also identified genotoxicity concerns for substances in congeneric group 3 (3-pentene-2-one). The exposure for congeneric group 10 (ethers of various structures) was above the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) applicable for this group, but a point of departure or health based guidance value that covers all the substances in this group could not be identified. The Panel concluded that according to the overall strategy for the risk assessment of flavouring substances, the presence of genotoxic substances as process-derived constituents of rum ether is of safety concern., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)