Recently, the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2018/98 amending Annexes II and III of EC Regulation no. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council and annexes to Regulation (EU) no. 231/2012 of the Commission by which the additive calcium sorbate (E 203) is deleted from the list of permitted food additives of the European Union.
The regulation on food additives is constantly reviewed, which is why it is of great interest to discuss the news in Regulation 133/2008 related to phosphates in frozen meat skewers, the adjustment of sweeteners in the category “confectionery products, pastries, pastries and cookies for special dietary needs” and the removal calcium sorbate from the positive list of additives We are also considering future changes that could affect Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives.
Overview of sweeteners in the category “pastries, pastries, confectionary products and cookies for special dietary needs”
Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/97 of January 22, 2018 amends Annex II of Regulation (EC) no. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the use of sweeteners in baked goods, pastries, pastries and cookies.
Amendment of Annex II. of Regulation 1333/2008 is appropriate in relation to the use of E 950 acesulfame K, E 951 aspartame, E 952 cyclamic acid and its sodium and calcium salts, E 954 saccharin and its sodium, potassium and calcium salts, E 955 sucralose, E 959 neohesperidin DC , E 961 neotame, E 962 aspartame and acesulfame salt and E 969 Advantame in “pastries, pastries, confectionery and biscuit products for special nutritional needs”.
Additive changes affecting vertical frozen meat skewers
Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/74 of January 17, 2018 amends Annex II of Regulation (EC) no. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council regarding the use of phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338-452) in vertical skewers of frozen meat.
Regulation 1333/2008 was modified for the use of phosphates in vertical skewers of frozen meat, covering the technological needs that the food industry transferred to the European Commission, considering that they are needed for the partial extraction and breakdown of meat proteins. in order to form a protein plate on the vertical meat skewers that allows the joining of different pieces and guarantees homogeneity during freezing and baking.
Calcium sorbate has been removed from the list of additives
Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/98 of January 22, 2018 amending Annex II. and III. Regulation (EC) no. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council and Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) no. 231/2012 regarding calcium sorbate (E 203).
Calcium sorbate (E 203) was removed from the positive list of additives of Regulation 1333/2008. This measure applies from August 12, 2018.
The industry tends to use potassium or sodium sorbate more often, so we estimate that the abolition of the positive list of calcium sorbate additives will not have a negative impact on the sector.
The importance of predicting food additives
It is recommended to thoroughly follow the proposals made by the European Commission on all issues related to additives, both from the point of view of their use, and from the point of view of the regulations that apply to their specific properties.
Secondly, it is also very convenient to pay attention to the activities carried out by EFSA in relation to the re-evaluation of food additives, since scientific opinions published on this topic are a precursor to regulatory changes by the EU.
Source: AINIA Technology Center
