Safety evaluation of certain food additives - ipcs inchem

SULFITES: ASSESSMENT OF DIETARY EXPOSURE 237
Table 5. (contd)
Country Type of survey
(year)
Lebanon One 24-h recall;
children aged
9–13 years and
adolescents aged
14–18 years;
sample size 230
(2002–2003)
Assumptions used
for the
assessment of
dietary exposure
Mean analytical
data in selected
foods
Foods analysed
as “ready to
consume”
Adjusted for
individual body
weight
Indicator Dietary
exposure to
sulfites (mg
sulfur dioxide/
kg bw per day)
Mean (all
population)
Mean
(consumers only)
95th percentile
(consumers only)
0.4 57
0.44 63
% ADI
1.5 214
a JECFA ADI 0–0.7 mg/kg bw.
b The range represents the minimum and maximum estimated level of dietary exposure to
sulfites depending on the type of fruit juice.
In Brazil, high potential dietary exposure to sulfites from fruit juices
(Machado, 2007b) was assessed by combining individual consumption data
generated by a 24-h dietary recall with sulfite levels determined by chemical analysis
in those fruit juices containing added sulfites (according to the label). Dietary
exposure was expressed in relation to individual body weights in consumers only
(140 subjects). Mean dietary exposure from fruit juices would vary from 16% to 59%
of the ADI, and dietary exposure at the 97.5th percentile would vary from 43% to
155% of the ADI. To simulate a conservative scenario, dietary exposure was also
assessed using national MLs in fruit juices as served to the consumer. The mean
consumption of fruit juices containing sulfites at a ML of 200 mg/l for fruit juice in
general and of 333 mg/l for cashew apple juice could lead to dietary exposure in
excess of the ADI: respectively, 207% and 344%. The results indicate that
teenagers, who are regular high consumers of fruit juices containing sulfites, are
potentially at risk of exceeding the ADI and that in mean consumers, fruit juices
containing sulfites cover a significant portion of the ADI. The Committee noted that,
owing to the small size of the Brazilian sample, the high percentiles that were
assessed bear significant uncertainty and the true high percentile of dietary
exposure could be higher or lower.
In France, dietary exposure to sulfites was estimated by combining national
individual consumption data from the national individual consumption survey
(INCA1) (Volatier, 2000) with the occurrence/use level of sulfites as reported by the
food industry (Bemrah et al., 2008). It was based on two different scenarios. Dietary
exposure was expressed in relation to individual body weights in 2492 subjects
(1474 adults; 1018 children).