Estimation of daily intakes of food additives in children using market basket method (2009)

Abstract

Daily intakes of food additives such as colors, preservatives, sweeteners and food manufacturing agents for children (1-6 years) in Japan were estimated using market basket method. A list of daily consumption of processed foods was prepared based on the National Nutrition Survey (2001-2002) and National Health and Nutrition Survey (2003). The food additives with the highest daily intake was orthophosphoric acid (9.4 mg/kg bw/day, expressed as phosphorus), followed by condensed phosphoric acid (0.76 mg/kg bw/day, expressed as phosphorus), and propylene glycol (0.47 mg/kg bw/day). Acceptable daily intake (ADI) and maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) or Food Safety Commission of Japan were compared with the estimated daily intake of food additives in children. The ratio to ADI of the colors, preservatives, sweeteners and propylene glycol were 0〜1.9%. The ratio to the MTDI of phosphorus compounds was 15%.