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Re‐evaluation of argon (E 938) and helium (E 939) as food additives

Authors :
EFSA FAF Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings)
Laurence Castle
Monica Andreassen
Gabriele Aquilina
Maria Bastos
Polly Boon
Biagio Fallico
Reginald Fitzgerald
Maria Jose Frutos Fernandez
Bettina Grasl‐Kraupp
Ursula Gundert‐Remy
Rainer Gürtler
Eric Houdeau
Marcin Kurek
Henriqueta Louro
Patricia Morales
Sabina Passamonti
Salvatore Multari
Josef Daniel Rasinger
Ana Maria Rincon
Sam Vermeiren
Camilla Smeraldi
Source :
EFSA Journal, Vol 22, Iss 10, Pp n/a-n/a (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Wiley, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) provides a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of the two food additives argon (E 938) and helium (E 939). Argon (Ar) and helium (He) are two noble gases, highly stable single atoms. Their chemical inertness is well known. Their physicochemical properties have served as a basis for their previous evaluations by SCF and JECFA, which have considered the use of these food additives safe even in the absence of a toxicological evaluation. No business operator or other interested party provided information in response to the call for data published by EFSA to support the re‐evaluation of these two food additives with respect to their identity and specifications, manufacturing process (including the identification and quantification of potential impurities) and how they are applied to food to exert their technological function. One business operator replied to the call for data issued by EFSA reporting use levels of E 938 as a packaging gas in one food category. Based on their physicochemical properties, both gases are considered by the Panel to be of low toxicological concern when used as food additives. No information was available on the potential presence of impurities of toxicological concern resulting from the manufacturing process(es) applied to the production of the food additives E 938 and E 939. The Panel however noted that a minimum purity of 99.0% is required to comply with existing specifications. The Panel concluded that the use of argon (E 938) and helium (E 939) as food additives does not raise a safety concern. The Panel recommended an amendment of the existing EU specifications to introduce the respective CAS numbers.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
18314732
Volume :
22
Issue :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
EFSA Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.84131d28728b465885e0658b4e1870c5
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9048