[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 230 (Thursday, December 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-29519]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 1, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
21 CFR Part 172

[Docket Nos. 92F-0053 and 92F-0333]

 

 Food Additives Permitted for Direct Addition to Food for Human 
Consumption; Acesulfame Potassium

 AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

 Action: Final rule.

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 SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food 
additive regulations to provide for the safe use of acesulfame 
potassium as a nonnutritive sweetener in yogurt and yogurt-type 
products, in frozen and refrigerated desserts, and in syrups, sweet 
sauces, and toppings. This action is in response to petitions filed by 
Hoechst Celanese Corp. and Kraft General Foods.

DATES: Effective December 1, 1994; written objections and requests for 
a hearing by January 3, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit written objections to the Dockets Management Branch 
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, rm. 1-23, 12420 Parklawn Dr., 
Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia A. Hansen, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-206), Food and Drug Administration, 
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-254-9523.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a notice published in the Federal 
Register of March 23, 1992 (57 FR 10028), FDA announced that a food 
additive petition (FAP 2A4311) had been filed by Hoechst Celanese 
Corp., Rt. 202-206 North, Somerville, NJ 08876. The petition proposed 
that Sec. 172.800 Acesulfame potassium (21 CFR 172.800) be amended to 
provide for the safe use of acesulfame potassium as a nonnutritive 
sweetener in yogurt and yogurt-type products, in frozen and 
refrigerated desserts, and in syrups and toppings.
    In a notice published in the Federal Register of October 29, 1992 
(57 FR 49090), FDA announced that a food additive petition (FAP 2A4314) 
had been filed by Kraft General Foods, 250 North St., White Plains, NY 
10625. The petition proposed that Sec. 172.800 be amended to provide 
for the use of acesulfame potassium as a nonnutritive sweetener in 
table syrups, including sweet sauces and toppings.

 I. Determination of Safety

     Under section 409(c)(3)(A) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 348(c)(3)(A)), the so-called ``general safety 
clause,'' a food additive cannot be listed for a particular use unless 
a fair evaluation of the evidence establishes that the additive is safe 
for that use. The concept of safety embodied in the Food Additives 
Amendment of 1958 is explained in the legislative history of the 
provision: ``Safety requires proof of a reasonable certainty that no 
harm will result from the proposed use of the additive. It does not--
and cannot--require proof beyond any possible doubt that no harm will 
result under any conceivable circumstance'' (H. Rept. 2284, 85th Cong., 
2d sess. 4 (1958)). This concept of safety has been incorporated into 
FDA's food additive regulations (21 CFR 170.3(i)).
     The food additives anticancer, or Delaney, clause (section 
409(c)(3)(A) of the act) further provides that no food additive shall 
be deemed to be safe if it is found to induce cancer when ingested by 
man or animal. Importantly, however, the Delaney clause applies to the 
additive itself and not to constituents of the additive. Thus, where an 
additive has not been shown to cause cancer, even though it contains a 
carcinogenic impurity, the additive is not subject to the legal effect 
of the Delaney clause. Rather, the additive is properly evaluated under 
the general safety clause using risk assessment procedures to determine 
whether there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from 
the proposed use of the additive (Scott v. FDA, 728 F.2d 322 (6th Cir. 
1984)).

 II. Evaluation of Safety of the Petitioned Use of the Additive

    In its original review of asulfame potassium in 1988, FDA concluded 
that a review of animal feeding studies showed that there is no 
association between neoplastic disease (cancer) and consumption of this 
additive (53 FR 28379 at 28380 and 28381, July 28, 1988). No new 
information has been received that would change that conclusion. 
Therefore, FDA has evaluated the safety of the petitioned uses of this 
additive under the general safety clause, considering all available 
data.
     In determining whether the proposed use of an additive is safe, 
FDA considers, among other things, whether an individual's estimated 
daily intake of the additive will be less than the acceptable daily 
intake established from toxicological information. The agency has 
established an acceptable daily intake for acesulfame potassium of 15 
milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight per day (or 900 mg per 
person per day (mg/p/d)). The agency described its analysis of the data 
that led to the establishment of the acceptable daily intake in its 
original decision on the use of acesulfame potassium (53 FR 28379). The 
agency has considered consumer exposure to acesulfame potassium 
resulting from uses listed in this regulation, as well as all currently 
regulated uses and other petitioned uses, including those that are the 
subject of regulations published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register. FDA has calculated the 90th percentile estimated daily intake 
from these combined uses to be 180 mg/p/d, which is well below the 
acceptable daily intake.

 A. Special Conditions Relevant to the Petitioned Uses

     The uses of acesulfame potassium that are the subject of the 
petitions specified previously in this document may subject the 
sweetener to conditions other than those considered in the petition 
that supported the promulgation of Sec. 172.800, or those considered in 
the petitions that supported amendments to Sec. 172.800. FDA has 
evaluated data in the subject petitions and other information regarding 
the stability of acesulfame potassium under a variety of temperature, 
moisture content, and pH conditions that characterize the proposed 
uses. Even under extreme temperature conditions simulating those of 
ultrahigh temperature pasteurization, no detectable amounts of 
decomposition products were found. The agency concludes that acesulfame 
potassium is stable under the proposed conditions of use.

 B. Methylene Chloride

     The manufacturing process referred to in the petitions for 
acesulfame potassium differs from that described in the petition that 
was the basis for the promulgation of Sec. 172.800. In the new process, 
methylene chloride is used as a solvent in the initial step in the 
process. Subsequently, the product is neutralized, stripped of 
methylene chloride, and recrystallized from water. Data were submitted 
by the petitioner showing that methylene chloride could not be detected 
in the final product at a limit of detection of 40 parts per billion 
(ppb).
     FDA, in its evaluation of the safety of acesulfame potassium, 
reviewed both the safety of the additive and of the chemical impurities 
that may be present in the additive as a result of the manufacturing 
process. Residual amounts of reactants and manufacturing aids are 
commonly found as contaminants in chemical products, including food 
additives.
     The agency has used risk assessment procedures to estimate the 
upper-bound limit of risk presented by methylene chloride, a 
carcinogenic chemical, that may be present as an impurity in the 
additive. This risk evaluation has two aspects: (1) Assessment of the 
human exposure to the impurity from the proposed use of the additive; 
and (2) extrapolation of the risk observed in the animal bioassays to 
the conditions of probable human exposure.
     FDA has estimated the hypothetical worst-case exposure to 
methylene chloride from both the currently regulated and the petitioned 
uses of acesulfame potassium to be 3.6 nanograms (ng)/p/d (Ref. 1). 
This estimate is based on the assumption that methylene chloride is 
present in acesulfame potassium at a level of 20 ppb, one-half its 
detection limit (Ref. 2). Because it is a volatile compound that is 
removed from the additive prior to further purification, FDA does not 
expect it to be present even at that very low level (Ref. 1).
     Using risk assessment procedures, FDA used data from the National 
Toxicology Program report of a bioassay on methylene chloride (Ref. 3) 
to calculate the potency, or unit risk, from exposure to this chemical 
(Ref. 4). The results of the bioassay on methylene chloride 
demonstrated that the material was carcinogenic for mice under the 
conditions of the study. The test material induced benign and malignant 
neoplasms in both the liver and lung of both sexes when administered by 
inhalation.
     The agency also evaluated data from a second study, in mice of the 
same strain as used in the inhalation study, in which methylene 
chloride was administered in the drinking water (Ref. 5). In this 
second study, there was no significant increase in the incidence of 
neoplasms at any site examined. However, assuming that methylene 
chloride would induce neoplasia at a dose just above the highest level 
tested in the drinking water study, a maximum potency for ingested 
methylene chloride can be estimated. This estimate is approximately the 
same as the potency calculated from the data of the inhalation study, 
providing confidence that using the inhalation study for upper-bound 
risk assessment is not likely to underestimate any potential risk due 
to ingested methylene chloride (Ref. 4).
     Based on a potential exposure of 3.6 ng/p/d, FDA estimates that 
the upper-bound limit of individual lifetime risk from the potential 
exposure to methylene chloride resulting from the use of acesulfame 
potassium is 2.6 x 10-11, or less than 3 in 100 billion (Ref. 6). 
Because of the numerous conservative assumptions used in calculating 
the exposure estimate, actual lifetime averaged individual daily 
exposure to methylene chloride is expected to be substantially less 
than the estimated worst-case exposure, and therefore, the estimated 
upper-bound limit of risk would be substantially higher than any actual 
risk. Thus, the agency concludes that there is a reasonable certainty 
of no harm from the exposure to methylene chloride that might result 
from the proposed uses of acesulfame potassium.
     The agency has also considered whether a specification is 
necessary to control the amount of methylene chloride impurity in the 
food additive. While FDA would ordinarily establish a specification for 
a carcinogenic constituent in a direct food additive, the agency finds 
that specifications are not needed in this case for the following 
reasons: (1) Methylene chloride is a volatile material that is used 
early in the manufacturing process for the additive and then removed 
from the additive. Several steps occur after methylene chloride is 
removed and before the additive is added to food. Therefore, the agency 
would not expect this impurity to become a component of food at other 
than an extremely low level. (2) Methylene chloride has not been 
detected in any samples tested even at a limit of detection of 40 ppb, 
a level that is several orders of magnitude below levels that would 
present any public health concerns. (3) Finally, the upper-bound limit 
of lifetime risk from exposure to this impurity, even under worst-case 
assumptions, is very low, less than 3 in 100 billion. Thus, FDA 
believes that there is no reasonable possibility that methylene 
chloride will be present in amounts that present a health concern and 
sees no justification for requiring manufacturers to monitor compliance 
with a specification.

III. Conclusion of Safety

     FDA has evaluated the data in the petitions and other relevant 
material and concludes that the use of acesulfame potassium in yogurt 
and yogurt-type products, frozen and refrigerated desserts, and in 
syrups, sweet sauces, and toppings is safe. Therefore, the agency 
concludes that Sec. 172.800 should be amended as set forth below.
    In accordance with Sec. 171.1(h) (21 CFR 171.1(h)), the petitions 
and the documents that FDA considered and relied upon in reaching its 
decision to approve the petitions are available for inspection at the 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition by appointment with the 
information contact person listed above. As provided in 21 CFR 
171.1(h), the agency will delete from the documents any materials that 
are not available for public disclosure before making the documents 
available for inspection.

IV. Environmental Impact

    The agency has carefully considered the potential environmental 
effects of this action. FDA has concluded that the action will not have 
a significant impact on the human environment, and that an 
environmental impact statement is not required. The agency's finding of 
no significant impact and the evidence supporting that finding, 
contained in an environmental assessment, may be seen in the Dockets 
Management Branch (address above) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

V. Objections

    Any person who will be adversely affected by this regulation may at 
any time on or before January 3, 1995, file with the Dockets Management 
Branch (address above) written objections thereto. Each objection shall 
be separately numbered, and each numbered objection shall specify with 
particularity the provisions of the regulation to which objection is 
made and the grounds for the objection. Each numbered objection on 
which a hearing is requested shall specifically so state. Failure to 
request a hearing for any particular objection shall constitute a 
waiver of the right to a hearing on that objection. Each numbered 
objection for which a hearing is requested shall include a detailed 
description and analysis of the specific factual information intended 
to be presented in support of the objection in the event that a hearing 
is held. Failure to include such a description and analysis for any 
particular objection shall constitute a waiver of the right to a 
hearing on the objection. Three copies of all documents shall be 
submitted and shall be identified with the docket number found in 
brackets in the heading of this document. Any objections received in 
response to the regulation may be seen in the Dockets Management Branch 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 VI. References

     The following references have been placed on display in the 
Dockets Management Branch (address above) and may be seen by interested 
persons between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
     1. Memorandum from M. DiNovi, Chemistry Review Branch, to P. 
Hansen, Biotechnology Policy Branch, dated August 14, 1992.
     2. Memorandum from M. DiNovi, Chemistry Review Branch, to P. 
Hansen, Biotechnology Policy Branch, dated November 9, 1994.
     3. ``Technical Report on the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis 
Studies of Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) in F344/N Rats and 
B6C3F1 Mice,'' NTP Draft Report, NTP-TR-306, National Institute of 
Health Publication No. l-85-2562, 1985.
     4. Memorandum from the Quantitative Risk Assessment Committee, 
dated November 15, 1985.
     5. National Coffee Association, ``24-Month Oncogenicity Study 
of Methylene Chloride in Mice--Final Report; Vol. 1,'' Hazelton 
Laboratories America, Inc., Vienna, VA, November 30, 1983.
     6. Memorandum from P. Hansen, Biotechnology Policy Branch, to 
S. Henry, Quantitative Risk Assessment Committee, dated June 24, 
1993.

 List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 172

     Food additives, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
     Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and 
under authority delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR 
part 172 is amended as follows:

PART 172--FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED FOR DIRECT ADDITION TO FOOD FOR 
HUMAN CONSUMPTION

     1. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 172 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Secs. 201, 401, 402, 409, 701, 721 of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321, 341, 342, 348, 371, 
379e).

     2. Section 172.800 is amended by adding new paragraphs (c)(9) 
through (c)(11) to read as follows:


Sec. 172.800  Acesulfame potassium.

 * * * * *
     (c) *   *   *
     (9) Yogurt and yogurt-type products.
     (10) Frozen and refrigerated desserts.
     (11) Sweet sauces, toppings, and syrups.
 * * * * *

    Dated: November 18, 1994.
William K. Hubbard,
Interim Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 94-29519 Filed 11-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F