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Cancer concerns over smoked food Cancer concerns over smoked food
(20 minutes later)
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says one of the flavourings used to smoke meat, cheese or fish, may be toxic to humans.The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says one of the flavourings used to smoke meat, cheese or fish, may be toxic to humans.
The authority looked at 11 smoke flavourings commonly used in the European Union.The authority looked at 11 smoke flavourings commonly used in the European Union.
It says several of the flavourings are dangerously close to levels which may cause harm to humans.It says several of the flavourings are dangerously close to levels which may cause harm to humans.
The European Commission will now establish a list of smoke favouring products that are safe for use in food.The European Commission will now establish a list of smoke favouring products that are safe for use in food.
The smoke flavourings are products which can be added to foods to give them a 'smoked' flavour, as an alternative to traditional smoking.
The flavouring EFSA is most concerned about is called Primary Product AM 01 which is obtained from beech wood.
The wood particles are burnt under controlled conditions and the hot vapours are dissolved in a solvent.
The Panel says the use of the substance 'at the intended levels is a safety concern'.
Klaus-Dieter Jany, the chair of EFSA's expert panel on flavourings (CEF Panel) said: "The Panel based its conclusions on the limited data which are currently available as well as conservative - or cautious - intake estimates.
"The Panel expressed safety concerns for several smoke flavourings where intake levels could be relatively close to the levels which may cause negative health effects.
"However, this does not necessarily mean that people consuming these products will be at risk as, in order to be on the safe side, the consumption estimates deliberately over-estimate intake levels."