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To discuss the context of scientific publications on the consumption of food additives by children and the possible health consequences in this age group. A literature review, with a search carried out between April and April in the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases, as well as in websites of Brazilian and foreign official bodies.
Official documents and studies published since were selected. Keywords related to food additives, children, food consumption, and health were used for the search. Food additives are substances intentionally added to foods for technological purposes. Processed foods are the main sources of additives in food and their consumption occurs since childhood. It is observed, however, that there are limitations inherent to the scientific method regarding the analysis of consumption and toxicity of food additives in humans, causing scarcity of data in the scientific literature.
Additionally, existing data suggest that the additives have a higher toxic potential in children, considering that the body weight in this age group is lower than in adults. This context emphasizes the need to observe the precautionary principle, according to which risks of harm must be prevented. Thus, the relevance of an expanded technical-scientific debate regarding the establishment of specific and stricter parameters for children is considered, regarding the consumption and toxicity of additives, as well as the different sources of exposure to these substances.
Studies indicate, in Brazil and other countries, an increase in the purchase of processed foods for consumption from the first months of life 1 , 2 , especially those classified as ultra-processed a , 3. In Brazil, soft drinks, industrialized fruit-based drinks in long-life or powdered packaging , snacks, sweets, chocolates, sausages, breads and cookies are among the most consumed foods by children 7.
