ingredient
Any substance deliberately added to a foodstuff which will remain in the finished product, even in an altered form
Food ingredients are any substances added to food during its production, processing, or preparation to achieve a specific purpose, such as flavour, texture, preservation, or nutritional value. Under EU regulation, they are described as food improvement agents. Essentially, any component that becomes part of the final food product or affects its characteristics can be considered a food ingredient.
EFSA ensures the safety of food ingredients, including food additives (food colours and sweeteners for example), food flavourings, food enzymes, nutrients and botanicals, by conducting thorough scientific risk assessments before their use is authorized by the European Commission and Member States. EFSA evaluates data on potential toxicity, exposure, and bioavailability, assessing health hazards and consumer exposure levels to provide independent advice that underpins EU regulations, including safe limits and labelling requirements.