Modification to the List of permitted emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing or thickening agents to extend the use of polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids

Notice of Modification – Lists of Permitted Food Additives
Reference Number: M-FAA-24-11
September 10, 2024

Background

Food additives are regulated in Canada under marketing authorizations (MAs) issued by the Minister of Health and the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR). Authorized food additives and their permitted conditions of use are set out in the Lists of Permitted Food Additives that are incorporated by reference in the MAs. A petitioner can request that Health Canada authorize a new food additive or a new condition of use for an already permitted food additive by filing a food additive submission with the Department's Food and Nutrition Directorate. Health Canada uses this premarket authorization process to determine whether the scientific data support the safety of food additives when used under specified conditions in foods sold in Canada.

Issue

Health Canada's Food and Nutrition Directorate received a food additive submission seeking authorization for the use of polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids as an emulsifying agent in unstandardized mayonnaise-type dressings, unstandardized spreads, unstandardized sauces and unstandardized condiments^{Footnote 1} at a maximum level of 0.8%, and for an increase in the maximum level of use of this food additive as an emulsifying agent in unstandardized chocolate flavoured confectionery coatings from 0.25% to 0.50%.

At the time of the petitioner's submission, polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids was already permitted for use in a number of foods, namely chocolate products, unstandardized chocolate flavoured confectionery coatings, edible vegetable oil-based pan coating emulsions for use on baking pans and unstandardized chocolate confectionery. However, polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids was not permitted in the requested unstandardized mayonnaise-type dressings, unstandardized spreads, unstandardized sauces and unstandardized condiments.

Rationale for Action

Health Canada's Food and Nutrition Directorate completed a pre-market safety and efficacy assessment of polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids for use as an emulsifying agent in the requested foods. The Directorate considered allergenicity, chemistry, efficacy, nutrition, and toxicology in the assessment. The results of the assessment support the safety and efficacy of polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids for use as an emulsifying agent in the requested foods and under the conditions of use set out in the table below. Therefore, Health Canada has modified the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents to extend the use of polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids by modifying column 3 of the existing entry P.1B(2) and by adding the new entry shown in the table below to the list (in bold font in this Notice to illustrate the change).

Modifications to the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents

Other Relevant Information

Food additives such as polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids are required to meet food-grade specifications set out in Part B of the Regulations, where such specifications exist, or those set out in the most recent edition of the Food Chemicals Codex or the Combined Compendium of Food Additive Specifications where there are no specifications in Part B. The Food Chemicals Codex is a compendium of standards for purity and identity for food ingredients, including food additives, published by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Specifications in the Combined Compendium of Food Additive Specifications are prepared by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Implementation and Enforcement

The above modification came into force September 10, 2024, the day it was published in the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act and its associated regulations with respect to foods.

Contact Information

Health Canada's Food and Nutrition Directorate is committed to reviewing new scientific information on the safety in use of any permitted food additive. Anyone wishing to submit an inquiry or new scientific information on the use of a permitted food additive may do so in writing, by regular mail or e-mail. If you wish to contact the Food and Nutrition Directorate by e-mail about polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids, please use the words "polyglycerol esters of interesterified castor oil fatty acids (M-FAA-24-11)" in the subject line of your e-mail.

Bureau of Chemical Safety
Food and Nutrition Directorate
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Postal locator 2202C
Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa ON K1A 0K9

Email: bcs-bipc@hc-sc.gc.ca