23.11.2021

Prohibition of titanium dioxide?

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is currently authorised as a food additive (E 171) according to Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and can be used as a white colour pigment in various foods. Based on a revised opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), according to which a genotoxicity of titanium dioxide when ingested orally cannot be excluded, the EU Commission submitted its proposal to ban the food additive at the beginning of the year. The EU member states have now approved the EU Commission's proposal.

23.11.2021

Resolutions of the 87th working meeting of the ALTS

In the Journal for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has published the resolutions of the 87th meeting of the ALTS (Working Group of Experts Working in the Field of Food Hygiene and Food of Animal Origin). The resolutions of the ALTS are not legally binding, but represent an important interpretation aid for food law regulations and questions.

23.11.2021

Acrylamide in Food

Acrylamide is a common process contaminant in food formed during the heating of starch-rich foods and is a serious concern for food business operators. Due to the large number of such foods produced and processed via heating processes, ingestion of acrylamide in food is almost unavoidable.

02.05.2022

New maximum levels for morphine and codeine

Opium poppy (Papaver Somniferum) has been known as a cultivated and intoxicating plant in many cultures in Europe and also Asia since the Neolithic and is considered one of the most important medicinal plants in pharmaceutical history. Until today, the analgesic effect is mainly used against strong or long-lasting pain. This effect is due to the natural components of the dried milk juice of the poppy, the opiates. These include morphine and codeine.

27.09.2021

Ethylene oxide

 Ethylene oxide is a plant protection agent that is not permitted in the EU and has been used, among other things, to sterilise spices. In Germany, its use in the food sector has been banned since 1981, as ethylene oxide is classified as mutagenic. Since the end of 2020, numerous warnings with positive findings in sesame seeds can be found in the European rapid alert system. The background to this is that ethylene oxide is very suitable for antimicrobial treatment and is also approved for the US market, for example.