Criteria for setting quantitative estimates of acceptable intakes of chemicals in food in the U.K.

The U.K. Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) provides advice to government on the safety-in-use of additives and on the possible health hazards from contaminants in food. In the past the COT has given advice on additives in descriptive rather than numerical terms; chemicals were either acceptable, temporarily acceptable or not acceptable for food use. From 1989 onwards the Committee will set acceptable intakes for new additives or existing additives under review and tolerable intakes for contaminants. These will provide guidance on levels of intake which generally should not be exceeded, and will be an aid to decisions on maximum levels of use of particular additives in specified foods. The criteria used by the COT to set quantitative estimates of acceptable and tolerable intakes are discussed.