Risk assessment of nitrate and nitrite in food

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) shall assess whether exposure to nitrates and nitrites from food poses a health risk for one or more groups in the Norwegian population. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has commissioned the risk assessment.

The assignment has two parts. The first part involves providing an overview of food items containing nitrite and nitrate. In the second part, the exposure to nitrate and nitrite from food will be estimated, and the risk will be assessed.

The project group consists of members of VKM’s Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food, and Cosmetics, external experts, and employees in VKM's secretariat.

The project group

Members of the VKM’s Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food, and Cosmetics:

• Monica Carlsen, Scientific leader of the project
• Monica Andreassen
• Ellen Bruzell
• Tove Devold
• Trine Husøy, Chair
• Camilla Svendsen

External experts:

• Annette Bernhard, Institute of Marine Research
• Marc Berntssen, Institute of Marine Research
• Marcin Wlodzimierz, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

From VKM’s Secretariat:

• Inger Therese Laugsand Lillegaard
• Gro Mathisen, Project manager

Members of the Panel for Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food, and Cosmetics will assess and approve the report from part 1 and the assessment from part 2. Part 1 will be published December 11, 2024. Part 2 will be started in 2025.