margin of safety
The gap between the actual intake of a substance by a given population and the estimated daily dose over a lifetime that experts consider to be safe
In food safety, the Margin of Safety (MOS) is a measure of how safe a substance is by comparing the level that causes harm (derived from studies) to the level people are actually exposed to in their diet. A larger margin means the exposure is much lower than the harmful level, indicating greater safety.
EFSA uses the MOS to help determine if substances like food additives and contaminants for example, are safe for consumers. By comparing the highest safe dose with the estimated exposure, EFSA can determine whether current intakes are acceptable or if limits, regulations, or additional safety measures are needed to protect public health.