Sucrose esters of fatty acids (E 473) as a food additive
What it found
The authors say the technical data support changing the specifications for E 473.
They also found that when updated use levels are considered, estimated exposure to E 473 goes above the group acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight per day for many population groups.
What they found
Studies in people
Exposure above ADI
When updated exposure estimates using provided use levels for some food categories are taken into account, estimates of exposure to E 473 exceeded the group acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight per day for many population groups.
Other findings
Specifications update
The technical data provided by business operators support an amendment of the specifications for E 473 in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.
Use in infant foods
According to the available information, E 473 is not used in food categories 13.1.1 and 13.1.5.1, including all types of food for infants below 16 weeks of age, and in food category 13.1.5.2.
Safety assessment skipped
Because E 473 is not used in those food categories and age group, an assessment of the safety for those uses was not performed.
What the authors conclude
“When the updated exposure estimates considering the provided use levels for some food categories are taken into account the estimates of exposure to sucrose esters of fatty acids (E 473) exceeded the group acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 40 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day for many population groups.”
Also in their conclusions
- They concluded that the technical data provided by the interested business operators support an amendment of the specifications for sucrose esters of fatty acids (E 473) laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.
- They noted that according to the available information, E 473 is not used in food categories 13.1.1 and 13.1.5.1, including all types of food for infants below 16 weeks of age, and in food category 13.1.5.2.
- They stated that when updated exposure estimates considering the provided use levels for some food categories are taken into account, the estimates of exposure to E 473 exceeded the group acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight per day for many population groups.
How it was done
The panel was asked to assess the safety of E 473 for use in food for infants below 16 weeks of age, and to address issues from earlier assessments for the general population.
The panel asked business operators for data to complete the risk assessment. They looked at whether E 473 is used in food categories 13.1.1 and 13.1.5.1, including all types of food for infants below 16 weeks of age, and in food category 13.1.5.2. They also looked at updated exposure estimates using provided use levels for some food categories.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This paper does not show what happens in people who eat E 473, because no new human studies were done.
- The exposure estimates are based on provided use levels and assumptions, not on measured intakes in people.
- The safety assessment for infants below 16 weeks was not performed because the additive is not used in those foods.
The paper
- Title
- Re-evaluation of sucrose esters of fatty acids (E 473) as a food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow-up of its previous evaluations as food additive for uses in foods for all population groups
- Type
- Scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), Younes M, Aquilina G, et al (2023). Re-evaluation of sucrose esters of fatty acids (E 473) as a food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow-up of its previous evaluations as food additive for uses in foods for all population groups. EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7961Free full textPubMed 37089185DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error