The primary research on the safety of food additive intake was conducted in 2005 for sulfurous acid, nitrite, tar color, preservatives, antioxidants, and sweeteners. The dietary intake assessment model was revised in 2009 with uncertainty factor and p...
The primary research on the safety of food additive intake was conducted in 2005 for sulfurous acid, nitrite, tar color, preservatives, antioxidants, and sweeteners. The dietary intake assessment model was revised in 2009 with uncertainty factor and professional consultation after analyzing the results of the primary research on food additives; with this revised model, the intake level and its safety were assessed for preservatives and antioxidants in 2011. To investigate the intake of preservatives and antioxidants, 610 samples of preservatives and 418 samples of antioxidants were purchased as monitoring sample, and the amount of preservatives and antioxidants in 14 and 8 items, respectively, was analyzed. Additionally, the intake of preservatives and antioxidants was calculated by applying to the result of monitoring the result of the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2009 (8,921 persons) and the Children's Food Intake Survey for Two Days Each Season in 2007-2008 (6,625 persons); the intake level and its safety were assessed through comparison with the ADI suggested in JECFA. As a result of monitoring preservatives and antioxidants, preservatives were detected in 304 out of 610 samples of 37 items and used for a food type containing the most sorbic acid. The detection rate of sorbic acid was 82.9% in processed product such as meat product, fish product, pickle products and benzoic acid was detected in beverage. As a result of analyzing 418 samples of 21 antioxidant items, a large amount of erythorbic acid and EDTA was detected; erythorbic acid and EDTA were usually used for dried preserved meat and dressing, respectively. Both preservatives and antioxidants were appropriate for the utilization standard. The evaluation of the daily intake of preservatives and antioxidants was carried out by applying various scenarios considering the high intake group including children. As a result of intake assessment according to the Korean population's sex, age, and consumer group, the intake of preservatives and antioxidants was found to be at a safe level, i.e., 0.00~0.89%, 0.01~0.28% of the ADI suggested by JECFA. In order to facilitate the risk communication on preservatives and antioxidants for elementary school children and their parents, a survey was conducted from 300 of children and parents each from which the current status of recognition and information needs on these food additives could be obtained. Based on the survey results as well as the brainstorming and consultation from the risk communication experts, two CD animations called 'Let's go to Food Land with Sani!' for children and 'Healthy Dietary Life of Purumi and Gunggumi' for parents were developed. These animations were applied to 100 elementary school students and 100 parents to evaluate the effect as a risk communication materials on preservatives and antioxidnats. Both elementary school children and parents showed a very positive response for the animation on their usefulness as an education material. Therefore, the animation developed in this study could be effectively used as a risk communication material for preservatives and antioxidants. The frequency of consuming processed foods containing both food additives were about 2~3 times a month both for children and parents, therefore the intake levels of preservative and antioxidants appeared to be quite low. Finally, strategies for the facilitation of risk communication on these food additives were suggested based on the survey results.