New FAO review explores food additives’ impact on gut microbiome and human health
FAO has conducted a scientific literature review to assess how certain food additives may affect the gut microbiome and, in turn, human health. The review aimed to gather and assess the quantity, quality, and reliability of current evidence, mapping research limitations and knowledge gaps, and exploring how microbiome data might be used to enhance chemical food safety risk assessments.
The gut microbiome - a highly dynamic and complex microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract – plays a key role in digestion, immune function, and overall health. Sensitive to environmental influences such as diet, its imbalance has been linked to various diseases, including obesity and inflammatory disorders.
The review concludes with a set of recommendations to guide and improve the integration of microbiome science into risk assessment frameworks. Through this work, the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division supports FAO’s mission to improve food safety by promoting robust scientific research and advancing the modernization of food safety assessment frameworks.
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations