Re-evaluation of oxidised starch (E1404), monostarch phosphate (E1410), distarch phosphate (E1412), phosphated distarch phosphate (E1413), acetylated distarch phosphate (E1414), acetylated starch (E1420), acetylated distarch adipate (E1422), hydroxypropyl starch (E1440), hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate (E1442), starch sodium octenyl succinate (E1450), acetylated oxidised starch (E1451) and starch aluminium octenyl succinate (E1452) as food additives

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panelon Food Additives and Nutrient sources added to Food (ANS) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of 12 modified starches (E1404, E1410, E1412, E1413, E1414, E1420, E1422, E1440, E1442, E1450, E1451 and E1452) authorised as food additives in the EU in accordance with Regulation (EC) No1333/2008 and previously evaluated by JECFA and the SCF. Both committees allocated an acceptable daily intake (ADI) not specified'. In humans, modified starches are not absorbed intact but significantly hydrolysed by intestinal enzymes and then fermented by the intestinal microbiota. Using the read-across approach, the Panelconsidered that adequate data on short-and long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity are available. Based on in silico analyses, modified starches are considered not to be of genotoxic concern. No treatment-related effects relevant for human risk assessment were observed in rats fed very high levels of modified starches (up to 31,000mg/kg body weight (bw) per day). Modified starches (e.g. E1450) were well tolerated in humans up to a single dose of 25,000mg/person. Following the conceptual framework for the risk assessment of certain food additives, the Panelconcluded that there is no safety concern for the use of modified starches as food additives at the reported uses and use levels for the general population and that there is no need for a numerical ADI. The combined exposure to E1404-E1451 at the 95th percentile of the refined (brand-loyal) exposure assessment scenario for the general population was up to 3,053mg/kg bw per day. Exposure to E1452 for food supplement consumers only at the 95th percentile was up to 22.1mg/kg bw per day. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.