Acceptable daily intake
Encyclopedia
Acceptable daily intake or ADI is a measure of the amount of a specific substance (originally applied for a food additive
, later also for a residue of a veterinary drug or pesticide) in food
or drinking water
that can be ingested (orally) on a daily basis over a lifetime without an appreciable health risk. ADIs are expressed usually in milligrams (of the substance) per kilograms of body weight per day.
and later the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
(JECFA), a committee maintained by two United Nations bodies: the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO
and the WHO World Health Organization
.
The ADI is considered a safe intake level for a healthy adult of normal weight who consumes an average daily amount of the substance in question. Increased safety factors for infants have been discussed, but are not needed, because elimination of chemicals is in fact often more rapid in children. The ADI does not take into account allergic reactions that are individual responses rather than dose-dependent phenomena.
The higher the ADI, the larger amounts of a compound are safe for regular ingestion. The concept of tolerable daily intake
is often used for unwanted contaminants or other chemicals.
The ADI concept can be understood as a measure to indicate the toxicity from long-term exposure to repeated ingestion of chemical compounds in foods (present and/or added), as opposed to acute toxicity.
Food additive
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance.Some additives have been used for centuries; for example, preserving food by pickling , salting, as with bacon, preserving sweets or using sulfur dioxide as in some wines...
, later also for a residue of a veterinary drug or pesticide) in food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
or drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
that can be ingested (orally) on a daily basis over a lifetime without an appreciable health risk. ADIs are expressed usually in milligrams (of the substance) per kilograms of body weight per day.
History
This concept was first introduced in 1961 by the Council of EuropeCouncil of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and later the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives is a scientific expert committee that is jointly run by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization....
(JECFA), a committee maintained by two United Nations bodies: the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO
Fão
Fão is a town in Esposende Municipality in Portugal....
and the WHO World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
.
Concept
An ADI value is based on current research, with long-term studies on animals and observations of humans. First, a No Observable (Adverse) Effect Level, the amount of a substance that shows no toxic effects, is determined. Usually the studies are performed with several doses including high doses. In the case of several studies on different effects, the lowest NO(A)EL is usually taken. Then, the NOEL (or NOAEL) is divided by a safety factor, conventionally 100, to account for the differences between test animals and humans (factor of 10) and possible differences in sensitivity between humans (another factor of 10). The ADI is usually given in mg per kg body weight per day.The ADI is considered a safe intake level for a healthy adult of normal weight who consumes an average daily amount of the substance in question. Increased safety factors for infants have been discussed, but are not needed, because elimination of chemicals is in fact often more rapid in children. The ADI does not take into account allergic reactions that are individual responses rather than dose-dependent phenomena.
The higher the ADI, the larger amounts of a compound are safe for regular ingestion. The concept of tolerable daily intake
Tolerable Daily Intake
Tolerable daily intake refers to the daily amount of a chemical that has been assessed safe for human being on long-term basis . Originally acceptable daily intake was introduced in 1961 to define the daily intake of a food additive which, during the entire lifetime, appears to be without...
is often used for unwanted contaminants or other chemicals.
The ADI concept can be understood as a measure to indicate the toxicity from long-term exposure to repeated ingestion of chemical compounds in foods (present and/or added), as opposed to acute toxicity.
See also
- Tolerable Daily IntakeTolerable Daily IntakeTolerable daily intake refers to the daily amount of a chemical that has been assessed safe for human being on long-term basis . Originally acceptable daily intake was introduced in 1961 to define the daily intake of a food additive which, during the entire lifetime, appears to be without...
- Acceptable daily application
- Food labeling regulationsFood labeling regulationsMany countries have Food labeling regulations -- see the following articles for more information:*United Kingdom food labeling regulations*Fair Packaging and Labeling Act -- a 1966 law passed in the USA....
- International Programme on Chemical SafetyInternational Programme on Chemical SafetyThe International Programme on Chemical Safety was formed in 1980 and is a collaboration between three United Nations bodies—the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme to establish the scientific basis for safe use of...
- Dietary Reference IntakeDietary Reference IntakeThe Dietary Reference Intake is a system of nutrition recommendations from the Institute of Medicine of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. The DRI system is used by both the United States and Canada and is intended for the general public and health professionals...