The European Union (EU) Council of Ministers has approved seven new additives as safe to use in EU foodstuffs: erythritol, soybean hemicellulose, ethyl cellulose, hexylresorcinol, tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), pullulan, and starch aluminium octenyl succinate.

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It has also lowered the allowable levels of nitrates and nitrites added to meat products sold in the EU, boosting consumer health safety, except for certain traditional products, such as some cured Spanish and German meats, whose manufacture would have been prevented by the new rules.


Meanwhile, ministers formalised a temporary ban on using certain gelling agents in jelly mini cups, because of the risk they can choke children.

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