Bulletin No 107, April 1999
Back to Bulletin No 107 Contents Page
Committee News
FAC Meeting
The Food Advisory Committee (FAC) met on 18 February 1999. This article
reports on the Committee's discussions on the Food Standards Agency, labelling
of phytosterol esters, caffeine levels, Food Chemical Surveillance Annual Report
1998, future FAC events, the FAC's 1998 Annual Report and genetically modified
(GM) foods.
Food Standards Agency
Members discussed the draft Bill and accompanying paper on the proposed
charging arrangements for the Food Standards Agency which are currently the
subject of public consultation. The Committee was also brought up to date on
the arrangements in hand to ensure the Agency is ready to be launched as quickly
as possible following the passage of the Bill through Parliament.
Phytosterol Esters
The Committee has been asked by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and
Processes (ACNFP) for their advice on the labelling of a yellow fat spread
containing increased levels of phytosterol esters. This follows consideration
by the ACNFP of an application submitted via the Dutch authorities who are
seeking clearance for the addition of phytosterol esters to yellow fat spreads
as a means of reducing blood cholesterol levels.
The FAC endorsed the ACNFP's recommendation that, in line with the EC Novel
Foods Regulation, food products containing this ingredient should be clearly
labelled. This will enable the very small section of the population who have
difficulty in metabolising phytosterols to avoid them. The FAC also agreed
with the ACNFP's view that consumers should be informed that products containing
phytosterol esters are not nutritionally appropriate for young children and
breast feeding women. The ACNFP felt that these individuals do not need to
reduce their blood cholesterol and it is possible that eating these products
might reduce their already low vitamin A levels. Members suggested that the
most suitable way to bring this to the attention of consumers could be via GPs
and other health professionals and through magazine articles.
Caffeine Levels
The Committee reviewed its current recommendation on caffeine in soft drinks
following the recent introduction of high caffeine "energy" drinks.
These drinks, which are targeted mainly at adults and adolescents have come on
the market since its previous consideration of caffeine in 1993. Members also
noted that the EC Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) had recently published an
opinion on the safety of these soft drinks. The SCF had concluded that the
consumption of these drinks was not a matter of concern for the majority of
adults but that they could result in transient behavioural changes in some young
children who were unaccustomed to tea and coffee.
The FAC discussed the availability of these drinks and the estimated intakes
of caffeine from these products. However, it requested comparative estimates of
caffeine intakes from other sources such as tea, coffee and chocolate. This
advice is expected to be discussed at its meeting in May 1999.
Chemical Surveillance
The Committee considered a draft of the Food Chemical Surveillance Annual
Report for 1998, which summarises the activities of the nine working parties
which report to the FAC on food chemical surveillance during the year. The
Committee welcomed the report and made several specific comments. The final
version of the report is expected to be published in May 1999.
Future FAC Events
The Committee discussed the possible format for future meetings as part of
its commitment to open up its work to the public. Several suggestions were made
which will be taken into account by the Secretariat in drawing up plans for an
event later in 1999.
FAC Annual Report
The Committee discussed a draft of its Annual Report for 1998. The Report
is due to be published in May 1999 and copies will be available free of charge
from the contact given at the end of this article.
GM Foods
The Committee discussed the general issue of GM foods and agreed a statement
which was published on 18 February 1999 as a FAC Press Release 2/99. A copy can
be accessed via MAFF's homepage on the internet at http://www.maff.gov.uk/
Further information on the work of the Committee can be obtained from
the FAC Secretariat, JFSSG, MAFF, Room 239, Ergon House c/o Nobel House, 17
Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. Tel. No. +44 (0)171 238 6267.
This page was last updated on 29 March 1999
