UK authorities have issued a warning due to an increase in the number of non-compliant food and drink products imported from countries like the United States.

The problem was identified by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) through import monitoring sampling and incident occurrence.

Local authorities have been urged to raise the issue with importers of products from the United States, as they may not be aware of the differences in laws between the two countries.

According to European regulations retained in the UK after Brexit, all food additives in products must be authorized for use in the relevant food category.

The non-compliance is mainly related to the use of food additives in products in which their use is not authorized, or their presence at levels exceeding the maximum authorized limit, as well as labeling defects. .

Examples of problems
Examples include the color erythrosine, shown on US products as red 3, the use of which is only permitted in cocktail cherries, which are found in breakfast cereals, bakery products and confectionery.

Foods Containing Southampton Yellow Orange FCF Colors; quinoline yellow; carmoisine; Allura Red; tartrazine; and 4R culvert above permitted levels or without warning: “May adversely affect activity and attention in children.” “

Calcium disodium EDTA and erythorbic acid are permitted additives for some foods, but they are not permitted in drinks while some drinks contain brominated vegetable oil (BVO).

Drinks labeled as containing BVO, EDTA or erythorbic acid and products other than cocktail cherries containing erythrosine or red 3 must not be imported into the UK.

Food companies that import and sell these products are required to ensure that anything they place on the market meets legal requirements. Importers have been advised to source only products that comply with the food additive legislation.

Adam Hardgrave, Head of Food Additives, Flavors and Food Contact Materials, said: “We have provided port health authorities with additional advice on unapproved food additives and incorrect labels found in imported food and beverages. . It is the responsibility of food business operators to ensure that imported products comply with food additive regulations and if they do not, they will be withdrawn from the market.

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