Food Additives
Regulation of authorised additives such as colours, sweeteners, preservatives and functional ingredients, including specifications, permitted uses and labelling.
Foresight tracks Food Additives developments and surfaces the alerts most likely to matter before they turn into missed deadlines, recalls, or escalation work.
Not ready for a trial? Take the 3-minute readiness assessment
Current activity
Intensifying
40% above the prior 8-week baseline
3-month trend
Latest alerts below
Last updated
13 May 2026, 19:19
Latest Food Additives alerts
The most recent regulatory and guidance signals tracked by Foresight
US FDA Requests Information on Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) in Food and Food Contact Uses
US FDA has issued a Federal Register request for information on the current uses, exposure and safety data for the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in human food and food-contact materials, with comments due by 13 July 2026. The findings will feed into FDA’s post-market reassessment of BHT and could lead to changes in permitted uses or limits, so food, packaging and ingredient suppliers should map where BHT appears in their portfolios and consider submitting robust data to protect or adjust those uses.
United StatesUkraine: Order No. 203 Tightens Dietary Supplement Composition and Health-Claim Rules (In Force 17 April 2026)
In April 2026 Ukraine’s Ministry of Health brought into force Order No. 203, tightening the compositional, labelling and health-claim rules for dietary supplements and for the addition of vitamins, minerals and certain other substances to foods. Manufacturers and importers of supplements and fortified foods now face clear upper limits for key nutrients, new bans and restrictions on certain ingredients and stricter marketing constraints, requiring prompt reviews of product formulas, labelling and claims for all products placed on the Ukrainian market.
UkraineEU EFSA Consults On Animal Rennet (Chymosin And Pepsin A) From Bos Taurus As New Food Enzyme
EFSA is conducting an ongoing risk assessment, including public consultation, on an application to authorise animal rennet containing chymosin and pepsin A from Bos taurus as a new food enzyme in the EU. If approved, this enzyme could broaden authorised processing options for dairy manufacturers under the EU food enzymes regime, so operators should track the EFSA opinion and subsequent authorisation decision within the current 2026 deadline window.
European UnionBulgaria Proposes Food Law Amendments To Ban Industrial Trans Fats
Bulgarian MPs have proposed amendments to the Food Law that would ban the use of industrial (non-naturally occurring) trans-fatty acids in foods and introduce high administrative fines alongside clearer food safety definitions. If enacted, the law would require food manufacturers and retailers to reformulate products within six months of entry into force, effectively eliminating industrial trans fats from the Bulgarian market and tightening alignment with EU health and nutrition policy.
BulgariaDelaware Bill HB 337 Would Mandate Folic Acid Fortification of Corn Masa Flour and Wet Corn Masa Products From 2027
Delaware’s HB 337, which would require folic acid fortification and updated labelling for corn masa flour and wet corn masa products, has cleared a key House committee and seen House Amendment 1 adopted as of 7 May 2026 while it continues through the legislative process. If enacted, food and retail businesses using corn masa ingredients in Delaware would need to reformulate products, adjust packaging and plan for compliance and enforcement exposure ahead of the proposed 1 January 2027 start date.
United StatesEFSA Open Adds Zinc and Selenium Feed Additive Dossiers; GMO Maize Applications Removed From Ongoing Work
EFSA’s Open EFSA platform has added a new zinc chelate feed additive dossier and updated a group of selenium feed additive dossiers, while several GMO maize and food improvement agent applications have disappeared from the ongoing work list in early May 2026. These pipeline changes indicate active EU risk assessment ahead of potential authorisation or renewal decisions, so feed and food operators using these additives or affected GMOs should monitor EFSA outputs and prepare for possible adjustments to permitted uses and conditions.
European UnionEU EFSA Issues Glycerol (E 422) Acute-Exposure Opinion And Updates GMO And Feed Additive Dossiers
In May 2026 EFSA published a scientific opinion on acute exposure to the food additive glycerol (E 422) in beverages and updated associated GMO maize and feed-additive dossiers in its Open EFSA register. These assessments signal potential future adjustments to EU risk-management decisions on beverages and feed flavourings while confirming that key GM maize authorisation and renewal processes remain on track with deadlines in late 2026.
European UnionEFSA FAF Panel Assesses Acute Exposure to Glycerol (E 422) From Beverages
EFSA has issued a May 2026 scientific opinion deriving an acute reference dose of 125 mg/kg body weight for glycerol (E 422) and finding that single-event exposures from slush ice drinks and potential uses in de-alcoholised wine can exceed this level across all age groups at current and proposed concentrations. This creates strong pressure for the European Commission to introduce binding maximum glycerol limits in beverages, which would materially affect formulation limits and risk management for slush products, flavoured drinks, and de-alcoholised wine marketed in the EU.
European UnionNew Jersey Senate Introduces Bill S4092 to Ban Nine Food Additives in Commercial and School Foods
New Jersey lawmakers have introduced Bill S4092 to classify foods containing nine specified preservatives and synthetic dyes as adulterated and to immediately ban those dyes from school food once the law takes effect, with a two-year transition for the broader commercial food ban. If enacted, food manufacturers, distributors, and school food-service providers selling into New Jersey would need to reformulate recipes, audit ingredient portfolios, and plan for state-specific supply and labelling controls in line with tightening US restrictions on legacy food additives.
United StatesAlaska SB187 – Senate-Passed Bill to Ban Seven Food Dyes in Public School Meals From 2028
In April–May 2026, Alaska’s SB187 advanced through the legislature, with the Senate and House Education Committee backing a bill to ban seven FDA-certified synthetic food dyes from public school breakfasts and lunches starting 1 January 2028. If enacted, school districts and food suppliers serving Alaska public schools will need to reformulate products and menus to remove these dyes on this timeline, signalling a stricter state stance on food additives in children’s diets.
United StatesSlovenia: Herbal Liqueur Withdrawn After Beta‑asarone Limit Exceeded
In April 2026 Slovenia’s food safety authority ordered the withdrawal of a German-produced herbal liqueur after official testing found the flavouring component beta-asarone above permitted limits in a sampled lot. This targeted recall underscores for beverage manufacturers and retailers the need to tightly control restricted flavouring substances and maintain traceable lots to enable rapid market withdrawals when contamination is detected.
SloveniaEU EFSA FAF Panel Re-Evaluates Five Epoxide Flavourings
EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings has updated its group evaluation of five epoxide flavouring substances, confirming no safety concern at current MSDI-based intake estimates but deriving a new NOAEL for beta-ionone epoxide from a 90-day rat study. While no immediate restrictions are proposed, all five flavourings now exceed the toxicological threshold of concern under mTAMDI exposure estimates, signalling closer scrutiny of use levels and a potential need for industry to supply more robust usage data.
European UnionUSITC Sunset Review Keeps Antidumping Orders on Monosodium Glutamate From China and Indonesia
In May 2026 the US International Trade Commission completed its second five-year review of antidumping duty orders on monosodium glutamate from China and Indonesia, finding that revoking the orders would likely lead to a recurrence of material injury to US industry. This determination effectively maintains existing antidumping duties on MSG imports, so producers, importers and food manufacturers should plan around continued price and supply impacts rather than expecting near-term duty relief.
United StatesEFSA Sets Clockstop Until 2027 in Xylanase Food Enzyme Risk Assessment (Aspergillus niger CCTCC M 2023311)
EFSA is assessing a new xylanase food enzyme produced by Aspergillus niger CCTCC M 2023311 under the EU Food Enzymes Regulation and has updated the OpenEFSA timeline to show a clockstop until April 2027 with an estimated completion deadline of December 2028. This signals that EU authorisation for this specific enzyme preparation is unlikely before late 2028, extending the period of regulatory uncertainty for food and ingredient manufacturers planning to use it in products for the EU market.
European UnionEFSA 2024 EU Pilot Monitoring Report on Food Additives and Flavourings
In April 2026 EFSA adopted and published the first 2024 EU pilot monitoring report on selected food colours and flavourings, finding that population exposures to three colours (E 142, E 124, E 102) and pulegone remain below their health-based guidance values while caffeine intakes in several surveys exceed previously defined doses of no safety concern. The report does not change existing EU authorisations but signals future policy work by highlighting data gaps, non-compliant uses and overestimated caffeine exposure, and by laying the foundations for a more robust annual EU monitoring system that could inform later risk management decisions.
European UnionEU EFSA Registers Application to Modify Food Additive E 445 (Glycerol Esters of Wood Rosins)
EFSA has registered an application under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 to modify the existing authorisation for the food additive glycerol esters of wood rosins (E 445), with the dossier now under European Commission validation as of 29 April 2026. Any resulting legislative change could alter how and where E 445 may be used in EU foods, so manufacturers relying on this additive should track the assessment and prepare for potential formulation or labelling adjustments.
European UnionEU Commission Draft Delegated Regulation Amending Directive 2001/112/EC on Processing Aids for Yeast Fermentation
The European Commission has issued a draft delegated regulation under the Fruit Juices Directive to authorise specific processing aids and maximum levels for yeast fermentation when producing reduced-sugar fruit juices. Once adopted, this will standardise how manufacturers reformulate fruit juices to cut sugar while preserving quality, giving clear EU-wide limits for commonly used fermentation aids.
European UnionJapan FSCJ Schedules 206th Additives Expert Subcommittee Meeting on Chlorous Acid Water
Japan’s Food Safety Commission has scheduled its 206th additives expert subcommittee meeting for 7 May 2026 to review the food health impact assessment of chlorous acid water. This continued scientific review could later shape how chlorous acid water is authorised or used in food-related applications, so manufacturers and importers should monitor forthcoming FSCJ opinions.
JapanNew York Legislature Passes Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act on GRAS Reporting and Additive Bans
New York’s legislature has passed the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, which would ban three controversial food additives and require manufacturers using self-affirmed GRAS ingredients to submit robust safety dossiers for public scrutiny once the bill is signed into law. This package would significantly tighten oversight of food formulation and chemical risk for any brand selling into New York, closing the GRAS self-certification loophole and signalling tougher state-level scrutiny of additives that could influence standards well beyond New York’s borders.
United StatesUS Draft FRESH Act Would Preempt State Food Chemical Laws and Reshape GRAS Oversight
A discussion draft FDA Review and Evaluation for Safe, Healthy and Affordable Foods Act of 2026 from Rep. Kat Cammack would overhaul FDA oversight of food chemicals and infant foods while inserting a strong federal preemption clause over state food-chemical and labeling laws. If advanced, it would centralise decisions on PFAS, dyes and other food substances at FDA, potentially nullifying state bans while creating new nationwide programmes for GRAS notifications, infant food contaminant limits and facility fees that food and packaging supply chains would need to track closely.
United StatesRelated topics
Not a newsletter. Not a feed.
Structured intelligence mapped to your business.
These are just a few of the most recent Food Additives alerts. Foresight tracks every jurisdiction, every day — and surfaces only what affects your portfolio, with full citations and evidence.
Start free trialFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Foresight's regulatory intelligence platform
Still have questions? Get in touch with our team
Join 3,500+ professionals staying ahead
Subscribe to Foresight Weekly for expert-picked regulatory developments across chemicals, sustainability, product safety, ESG, and HSE.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Read by professionals at
