EFSA delivers positive safety verdict on iron additive

By staff reporter

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Nutrition

The European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) has not uncovered any safety concerns with the nutritional additive Ferrous Ammonium Phosphate (FAP).

Used in food products and supplements as a source of iron, FAP is an inorganic salt containing iron (II), ammonium and phosphate ions.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA delivered a scientific opinion on the bioavailability of iron from FAP and on its safety in food and nutrition products. The safety of iron itself was out of the remit of the investigation

Safe at proposed levels

With regards to safety, the Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) found that FAP “at the proposed use levels, is not of safety concern provided that established upper safety limits for iron are not exceeded.”

As for the bioavailability of iron from FAP, the Panel found that it stood within a similar range to other iron salts used for fortification. Specifically its bioavailability is less than that from ferrous sulphate and greater than that from ferric pyrophosphate.

In intended food categories, FAP provides between 0.7 to 14 mg of iron per serving, which corresponds to 5 to 100 per cent of the RDA for iron in adults.

Toxicological data

No studies evaluating the toxicity of FAP in animals have been conducted but the Panel said it did not believe additional toxicological data on FAP is required.

The Panel explained that FAP dissociates in the stomach into its components, thus releasing ferrous, ammonium and phosphate ions. The scientists said ferrous, ammonium and phosphate salts have been evaluated as food additives and nutrient sources by various bodies and toxicological effects have not been identified.

Related news

Related products

An Insights-driven Holistic Approach to Health

An Insights-driven Holistic Approach to Health

Content provided by Lipofoods, a Lubrizol Company | 25-Sep-2023 | Product Brochure

As they adopt the notion of holistic health, proactive consumers are driving the demand for products that have science-backed ingredients and offer sensory...

LIPOFER™: a bioavailable and stable source of iron

LIPOFER™: a bioavailable and stable source of iron

Content provided by Lipofoods, a Lubrizol Company | 26-Apr-2023 | White Paper

Maintaining adequate iron levels is critical to maintaining a healthy body, with deficiencies being the cause of several health issues including anemia...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars