食品伙伴網訊 據歐盟食品安全局(EFSA)消息，6月15日歐盟食品安全局再次評估了硝酸鈉與硝酸鉀作為食品添加劑的安全性。目前歐盟食品科學委員會(SCF)與食品添加劑聯合專家委員會(JECFA )將硝酸鹽的ADI值定為3.7 mg/kg體重每天。

　　歐盟專家組認為，現有數據并未發現兩類物質的遺傳毒性，而且針對小鼠與大鼠的致癌性研究也呈現陰性。在現有數據基礎上，不能改變針對兩種物質的每日建議攝入量。

　　部分原文報道如下：

　　The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provided a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of sodium nitrate (E 251) and potassium nitrate (E 252) when used as food additives. The current acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) for nitrate of 3.7 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day were established by the SCF (1997) and JECFA (2002)。 The available data did not indicate genotoxic potential for sodium and potassium nitrate. The carcinogenicity studies in mice and rats were negative. The Panel considered the derivation of an ADI for nitrate based on the formation of methaemoglobin, following the conversion of nitrate, excreted in the saliva, to nitrite.