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Flavouring Dosages: EU Legal Limits for Different Carriers

FlavoursKanebaseUncategorized
By September 23, 2024October 2nd, 2024No Comments4 min read
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Written by Aaron Gupta

The Managing Director of Kanegrade, Aaron has over a decade of experience in Ingredients. Passionate about technical, regulatory and quality matters, as well as delivering great taste experiences with Food and Beverage products.

Product developers must know which carrier is used in their flavouring, since it’s often crucial in determining the percentage you’re allowed to use in your product.

Some carriers restrict the dosage allowed in the final food/beverage product whereas others are can be added at Quantum Satis (meaning as much as is needed).

Why even use carriers?

Carriers are essential in flavourings since they ensure a homogenous mixture of aromatic ingredients, shelf-stability is maintained, micro-growth is prevented and the flavour is safer to transport, handle and use. A good carrier does all of this and the right carrier is selected considering a range of these factors.

Carriers with limits – Propylene Glycol, Triacetin

Propylene Glycol and Triacetin are excellent carriers but in EU/UK Law there are limits to the amount that can be present in final food / beverage products.

The rules state each can only be present in foodstuff as consumed up to 3000mg/kg, or a beverage as consumed up to 1000mg/litre (except Cream liqueurs where different rules apply).

If the carrier were to be 100% of the flavour this means the maximum dosage would be:

  • Propylene Glycol: 0.3% in Foodstuff, 0.1% in Beverages
  • Triacetin: 0.3% in Foodstuff, 0.1% in Beverages

The carrier makes up less than 100% of the flavouring so can dose at these limits (or lower) to make sure your product follows the rules.

Remember, you need to add up the levels mentioned above from all sources. If any other ingredient contributes to these levels, make sure the total amount doesn’t go over what’s allowed.

This explains why product documents from a reputable flavour company must include the carrier percentage (or make it available upon request).

Carriers without limits – Ethanol, Oils

Now for some good news – flavours which use Ethanol and Oils such as Vegetable Oil and MCT Oil do not have such restrictions, and are permitted at Quantum Satis. Some points to note:

Ethanol: Quantum Satis for Foodstuffs or Beverages

Keep in mind that a drink with over 0.5% alcohol content is seen as an alcoholic beverage. So, if you use an Ethanol-based flavoring, you should add less than 0.5% to avoid this label if that’s not what you want!

Vegetable Oil / MCT Oil: Quantum Satis for Foodstuffs or Beverages

These work great for oil or fat based systems and you can use them at any level. But remember, they’ll have a small effect on the nutrition of the end product.

What about Flavour Powders?

Powders come as either spray-dried or plated. Whichever of these it is, they typically consist of the flavouring which may contain Propylene Glycol, Triacetin, Ethanol or Oils, as well as Maltodextrin and often Gum Acacia.

Out of these, only the Propylene Glycol and Triacetin are restricted, and the levels of each should be shown the documentation of the flavour powder. They will be significantly lower than in a liquid flavour, meaning the potential maximum dose of a flavour powder is normally several times higher (at least 3-5 times).

Other Limitations to Dosage – Restricted Substances

Another consideration with regard to the maximum dosage you can use are Restricted Substances. These are sub-components of some flavour ingredients (currently there are 11 of these) which have a limit in the final food or beverage product.

These will again be noted on the product documents from a reputable flavour house, and these dictate the maximum permissable dose so they should be considered in conjunction with the carrier when dosing your final product.
*This article is written with consideration to EU/UK Law as at September 2024.

The relevant laws are: