Comparison of two methods to assess the intake of flavouring substances

It is important to assess the intake of flavouring substances in order to be confident that exposure to the substance from its intended use presents no significant risk. A number of methods exist to estimate intake of food ingredients. Two such methods, one using a detailed dietary analysis based on food consumption and composition and one using 10 times the annual volume of use on a per capita basis (per capita x 10), were compared for their precision and practicality in assessing the intake of 10 flavouring substances. The detailed dietary analysis method of determining exposure resulted in good estimates of the distribution of intakes across the population, as well as patterns of intake of individuals. This method is both expensive and labour intensive. The per capita x 10 method yields results that, compared with those obtained by detailed dietary analysis, tend consistently to overstate exposure. Thus, this method is a conservative and practical approach to assessing exposure to flavouring substances and other food ingredients.