Who decides that a food additive is safe, and how?

Answer

Food additives are assessed for toxicological, carcinogenic and mutagenic effects by scientific bodies such as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which operates under the United Nations, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These assessments establish the daily intake amounts considered safe for people, and use is permitted only within those limits. In Türkiye the use of additives is regulated under the Turkish Food Codex, which is aligned with European Union legislation; they are therefore not substances used without limit or oversight but substances subject to official controls. Every product containing additives must declare them on the label: first the functional class, then the name of the substance or its E number — for example "Thickener (E 412)" or "Thickener (guar gum)". These assessments concern compliance with food legislation; halal suitability is a separate matter and has to be judged according to the source of the additive.