EFSA positive on E 246 for cheese and meat products

EFSA has identified no safety concerns with the broader use of the preservative E 246. The application covers eleven additional food categories, including cheese and meat products. It also includes pomegranate arils, various alcoholic beverages, and liquid food supplements. The positive opinion concerns the safety of the proposed uses and use levels. These uses have not yet been authorized.

Glycolipids (E 246) have been authorized for use in certain beverages since July 2022. These include flavored drinks, excluding dairy-based drinks. Alcohol-free beer and alcohol-free malt beverages are also covered by the existing authorization. The additive is also permitted in certain liquid tea concentrates and liquid fruit and herbal infusion concentrates.

Use on cheese and meat

Lanxess Deutschland GmbH submitted the application in February 2026. For ripened cheese, the application concerns use on the rind. For non-heat-treated meat products, it concerns application to the surface. The application also covers use on the surface of casings, coatings, and decorations for meat.

Other proposed uses include wine, cider, perry, and mead. Liquid food supplements are also included in the application. Supplements for infants and young children are excluded.

Estimated intake below the limit

EFSA assessed the authorized uses and the proposed extension together. The panel calculated exposure at maximum and typical use levels. It performed a separate calculation for consumers of food supplements.

The acceptable daily intake is 10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. Estimated exposure remained below this limit in all scenarios. This applied to all age groups assessed and to consumers of food supplements.

According to EFSA, the calculations probably overestimate actual exposure. The model assumed that all products within the assessed categories contained E 246. EFSA could not account for all the proposed restrictions to specific products.

Efsa.com