Canada Modifies Lists of Permitted Food Additives to Extend the Use to Human Milk Fortifiers

On April 14, 2021, the Health Canada’s Directorate approved the use of certain food additives in Human Milk Fortifiers by publishing the regulation “Notice of Modification to the Lists of Permitted Food Additives to Extend the Use of Certain Food Additives to Human Milk Fortifiers.”

Under agreement with Canada Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada previously allowed use of 6 food additives permitted in Infant formula’s and found safe to be used in HMFs.

The scientific document highlights the following focal-points for consideration:

• Approval for the use of gellan gum as a stabilizing agent in liquid HMF based on Hydrolyzed proteins.
• Tolerable maximum level of use for Gellan gum is 225 parts per million (ppm), which is equivalent to 0.00415% in the human milk containing the HMF, as consumed basis.
• Seven food additives for use in HMF concluded that there are no safety concerns with their use as set out in regulation namely - carrageenan, lecithin, monoglycerides, gellan gum, potassium citrate, potassium hydroxide and sodium citrate at various levels and also some as GMP’s.

In conclusion, information related to allergenicity, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, and toxicology support the safety of these food additives for use in HMF’s.

The regulation is effective from April 14, 2021 with immediate implementation.

To get complete access to the regulation, check out the Food News Monitoring System.