FDA revokes use of seven food additives

The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday revoked the use of seven food additives after environmentalists and food safety experts presented data showing six of the synthetic flavoring substances and flavor enhancers caused cancer in laboratory animals. The seventh synthetic flavor, styrene, was removed because manufacturers no longer use it.
The six substances are synthetically derived anibenzophenone (benzophenone), ethyl acrylate, eugenyl methyl ether (methyl eugenol), myrcene, pulegone and pyridine. Benzophenone can no longer be used in rubber articles that come into contact with food, the FDA said.

Companies who use these six additives will have 24 months to identify suitable replacements in food products, the FDA said.

The additives, said MacCleery, were deemed safe by the FDA in 1964 and have been commonly used in candy, ice cream, chewing gum, baked goods, drinks and other foods since that time. The US Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program tested the additives and found they caused cancer in two species of animals, according to the petition.

The FDA noted that the six substances are used "in very small amounts" in the US marketplace, so their use results "in very low levels of exposures and low risk," and they "do not pose a risk to public health under the conditions of their intended use."

The FDA is required by law to remove any food additive that has been shown to cause cancer in animals or humans at any dose.

The six flavoring substances have a natural counterpart in food or nature, the FDA said, and the use of those natural ingredients is not affected by this ruling.