(Finance) – To ensure that foods on the EU market are as safe as possible for consumers and protect them from carcinogenic substances as part of the actions envisaged by the European Plan to Fight Cancer, the European Commission is setting new limits for the use of nitrites and nitrates as food additives.
These new, significantly reduced limits protect against pathogenic bacteria (e.g. Listeria, Salmonella, Clostridia), as well as reduce exposure to nitrosamines, some of which are carcinogenic. Based on a rigorous scientific evaluation by EFSA, the new limits were approved unanimously by the Member States last springwe read in a note.
“Our citizens expect the peace of mind that comes from safe food to eat, this has always been a cornerstone of my mandate – commented the Commissioner Stella Kyriakidesresponsible for Health and Food Safety – Today, by setting new limits for nitrites and nitrate additives in foods, we are taking another step in this direction and carrying out another important action under the European Plan to fight against cancer. I now call on the food industry to quickly implement these rules based on science and, where possible, to reduce them further to protect the health of citizens”.
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