FDA Confirms Low Exposure Levels to Color Additives

IACM to conduct additional exposure studies

WASHINGTON, DC (September 17, 2015) – The International Association of Color Manufacturers (IACM) is pleased that recent conclusions from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed its expectations that the U.S. population is exposed to FD&C color additives at levels well below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) levels FDA had previously established. These data show that an adult or child would need to consume anywhere from 10 to 100 times or more of the estimated daily intake to reach the ADI level in their diet. The FDA unveiled its findings during a poster presentation at the American Chemical Society’s annual meeting, held in Boston in late August. The poster can be viewed at tinyurl.com/IACM-FDA.

“FDA’s findings confirm our long-held belief that colors added to foods and beverages are safe and used at levels well below previously determined acceptable levels,” remarked Sarah Codrea, IACM’s executive director. “The bottom line is the FDA agrees these ingredients are used at such small levels that they do not pose a threat to consumer health. We look forward to a comprehensive review of the FDA’s findings when they are published in a peer-reviewed journal next year.”

IACM has undertaken its own exposure study using actual FD&C color use level data from color manufacturers and users in its membership and will publish the findings upon completion. More information on the safety of FD&C colors can be found on the IACM website, at iacmcolor.org/color-library/.