On May 21, 2025, at the facilities of the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), with online broadcasting, the seminar “Food Additives Intake – Monitoring in Portugal” was held. The event aimed to present the methodology and the most recent data on food additives intake by the school population aged 11 to 17 in mainland Portugal, and to reinforce the importance of its systematic monitoring, contributing to the protection of public health and to consumer confidence.
The session featured speakers from FIPA (Portuguese Agrofood Industries Federation) and DGAV (Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary), who addressed the role of food additives in the sector and the regulatory processes and safety assessments associated with their use.
INSA, through its Food and Nutrition Department, presented the methodology followed to assess food additives intake by the study population, the challenges faced, and the results of the monitoring carried out in 2024.
Monitoring food additives intake allows for the continuous assessment of population exposure to these substances. In this process, 49 additives were identified in the foods consumed by the study population, all with an established ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake).
The organization of this seminar reflected the continuous commitment to transparency and the dissemination of scientific culture, always with the ultimate goals of increasing food literacy and, consequently, promoting public health.
The event can be watched in full on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/21oRsYwzWrI