The ADI concept is used extensively by regulatory bodies throughout the world, such as the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Community (EC) to confirm that ingestion of all additives remains within safe levels. read more
Some consumers think of food additives (E numbers) as a modern invention used to make cheap foods. In reality, food additives have a long history of consumption and are used in many traditional foods. read more
Generally, a few months of animal model testing, and a few weeks of human tests. Note that few of these compounds are "unnatural". Many food additives are found in nature. They are purified to levels not found in nature (including "natural" additives). read more
The food additives that are approved to be used in food and beverages in the U.S. are tightly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are required to prove to the FDA that their product is safe prior to putting it on the market. The low toxicity of food additives, safety testing and control by the FDA also make food additives the safest chemicals added to foods. read more