The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ruled that erythritol levels up to 1.6% “would not raise concerns for laxation” in non-alcoholic beverages.
The ruling followed a 2003 European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) decision that erythritol was safe for use in foods. But the SCF did not clear erythritol for use in beverages as there were concerns that the laxative threshold may be exceeded, particularly by young consumers, through ingestion of erythritol in beverages.
Erythritol is a naturally-occurring, calorie-free sugar alternative popular in low-fat and sugar-free food and beverage applications because its taste resembles that of sugar.
Summarising its findings, EFSA reported: “Based on the present application with a maximum proposed level of 1.6% erythritol as a flavour enhancer in non-alcoholic beverages and on the new available exposure model for acute consumption, a new assessment was performed. In comparison with previous statements, data from the new application combined with an acute consumption scenario in the most relevant population group (children) resulted in a bolus intake (0.6g/kg bw) lower than the [no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL)] for laxation of 0.71g/kg bw. The panel noted that using this model at the previous proposed level of 2.5% would result in a bolus intake (0.94 g/kg bw) greater than the NOAEL for laxation.
“The panel concluded that, based on the new data comprising a revised exposure estimate and taking into account the proposed maximum level of 1.6% erythritol in non-alcoholic beverages, the history of its use, the absorption characteristics of erythritol and the lack of adverse findings, including laxation, the acute bolus consumption of erythritol via non-alcoholic beverages at a maximum level of 1.6% would not raise concerns for laxation.”
The research was undertaken at the request of the European Commission.
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