Food Additives, between Necessity and Normative Restriction

摘要

Food additives were for the first time defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a FAO-WHO mixed organism, which does not have mandatory legal force. The Codex Alimentarius principles were adopted in the European Union legislation, through several directives and regulations regarding colorings, sweeteners and other food additives, and the E.U. member states have rendered the community directives in the internal law, the regulations being enforced directly. As for the banning of food additives, the positive list principle is applied, according to which the use of a food product or other additives in the manufacturing process is forbidden except for those whose use is legal. According to the quantum satis principle, additives should be used in food products according to the good practices of productions. Otherwise, a higher level of additives than necessary must not be used in order to reach a certain goal and mislead the consumer.