The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has put out an open call for data on the use and presence of food additives and flavorings to inform a pilot monitoring program.

The objective of the monitoring of the consumption and the use of food additives and flavorings is to better understand their intake by the EU population and assess that their uses do not raise health concerns. Data collected for monitoring purposes will help verify estimated dietary exposures at the time of authorization or re-evaluation of any additives or flavorings. The data may also be used or future risk assessment purposes.

Therefore, EFSA has developed a new process allowing direct submission of data by interested stakeholders. The new data collection process will be piloted throughout 2025–2026.

Following a recommendation by the European Commission on the methodology for monitoring food flavorings and additives intake, EU Member States should collect at least one of the following types of data:

• Analytical data: The concentration of flavorings and additives measured in food
• Use level data: Concentration of flavorings and additives reported by business operators to be used in food.

Member States may also collect presence data, which is data on the presence or absence of a specific food additive or flavoring in a foodstuff. Since the collected data should enable the calculation of food additive or flavoring intake, the collection of presence data alone is not sufficient, and should be complemented by the collection of analytical or use level data.

National food authorities, research institutions, academia, food business operators, and other stakeholders are invited to submit analytical, use level, and presence data on food additives and flavorings. Information about additives and flavorings that can be reported, as well as instructions on how to submit data, can be accessed through EFSA’s call for data. Data submissions will open on April 1, 2025 and close June 30, 2025.