Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for submissions on increasing the maximum permitted level for the sweetener acesulfame potassium in chewing gum.
FSANZ CEO Steve McCutcheon said the application sought to increase the limit for the sweetener from 2,000mg/kg to 5,000mg/kg.
“The increased limit would align the Food Standards Code with regulations in several other countries, including Canada and Japan,” he said.
“FSANZ has conducted a thorough safety assessment, including a dietary exposure assessment, and concluded there are no public health and safety issues associated with increasing the limit.
“All FSANZ decisions on standards are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation. The ministers can decide to adopt, amend or reject standards, or they can ask for a review.”
The closing date for submissions is October 1.