EFSA AFC Panel 2008 — Safety of Aluminium from Dietary Intake
Summary
The EFSA AFC Panel Scientific Opinion on the Safety of Aluminium from Dietary Intake (adopted May 2008, EFSA Journal 2008;754:1-34) established a tolerable weekly intake for aluminium of 1 mg Al/kg body weight per week, replacing the prior JECFA provisional tolerable weekly intake of 7 mg/kg b.w./week (a sevenfold reduction). The Panel identified neurodevelopmental and neurotoxic effects in animal studies as the basis for the TWI, alongside reproductive and developmental effects. The Panel noted that the new TWI is likely to be exceeded in a significant part of the European population, particularly among consumers of foods containing aluminium-based food additives, infants on certain formulae, and adults consuming antacids.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| TWI | 1 mg Al/kg b.w./week |
| Prior PTWI (replaced) | 7 mg Al/kg b.w./week (JECFA) |
| Critical endpoints | Neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental effects |
| Conclusion | TWI likely exceeded in significant part of European population |
| Adopted | 22 May 2008 |
| Adopting body | EFSA AFC Panel |
JECFA also subsequently lowered its PTWI to 1 mg/kg b.w./week aligning with EFSA.