Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 200 (FGE.200): 74 α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and precursors from subgroup 1.1.1 of FGE.19

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to evaluate the genotoxic potential of 74 flavouring substances from subgroup 1.1.1 of FGE.19 in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 200 (FGE.200). The Flavour Industry has provided additional genotoxicity studies for one representative substance in FGE.200, namely hex-2(trans)-enal [FL-no 05.073], and for other two substances in the same subgroup, namely 2-dodecenal [05.037] and 2-nonenal [05.171]. The Panel has evaluated these data and concluded that the concern still remains with respect to genotoxicity for the substances of this subgroup and their three representative substances. The Panel confirms, the need for an in vivo Comet assay performed in duodenum and liver for hex-2(trans)-enal [FL-no: 05.073]. For the two other representative substances of subgroup 1.1.1 (nona-2(trans),6(cis)-dienal [FL-no: 05.058] and oct-2-enal [FL-no: 05.060]), a combined in vivo Comet assay and micronucleus assay would be required. For the latter, evidence of bone marrow exposure should be provided.