Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (E 475) and its impurities
What it found
The authors say the EU specifications for E 475 should be tightened for four toxic elements and should add limits for erucic acid, 3-monochloropropanediol and glycidyl esters.
This work looked at the additive itself, not at people or animals.
What they found
Toxic elements
The maximum limits in the EU specifications for arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium should be lowered, based on the actual levels found in the commercial food additive E 475.
Other impurities
Maximum limits for erucic acid, 3-monochloropropanediol and glycidyl esters should be included in the EU specifications for E 475.
Fats and oils used
As an alternative, the definition of E 475 could be amended to require that the fats and oils used to make it comply with EU legislation on suitability for human consumption.
Trans fats
There is no need for a specification limit for trans-fatty acids in E 475, because a limit of 2 g of trans-fat per 100 g fat in food for the final consumer is already set in Regulation (EU) No 2019/649.
Polyglycerol source
The definition of E 475 should be modified to say that the polyglycerol used to make it comes from glycerol meeting the specifications for E 422. If so, limits for epichlorohydrin, acrolein and butanetriol would not be needed for E 475.
What the authors conclude
“The Panel concluded that the maximum limits in the EU specifications for the 4 toxic elements (arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium) should be lowered based on actual levels in the commercial food additive E 475.”
Also in their conclusions
- They concluded that the maximum limits in the EU specifications for the 4 toxic elements (arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium) should be lowered based on actual levels in the commercial food additive E 475.
- They also concluded that maximum limits for erucic acid, 3-monochloropropanediol and glycidyl esters should be included in the EU specifications for E 475.
- They recommend an amendment of the definition of E 475 to include a requirement that the fats and oils used in the manufacturing of E 475 comply with the respective EU legislation regarding suitability for human consumption.
How it was done
E 475 was re-evaluated in 2017, and that assessment left data gaps. This follow-up addresses those gaps to support an amendment of the EU specifications for E 475.
The Panel performed a risk assessment of undesirable impurities and constituents that may be present in the commercial food additive E 475.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This assessment looked at the additive and its impurities, not at health effects in people or animals.
- It cannot show what amounts of these impurities people actually take in from foods containing E 475.
The paper
- Title
- Follow-up of the re-evaluation of polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (E 475) as a food additive
- Type
- Scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), Younes M, Aquilina G, et al (2022). Follow-up of the re-evaluation of polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (E 475) as a food additive. EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7308Free full textPubMed 35600272DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error