Sodium monofluorophosphate as a source of fluoride added for nutritional purposes to food supplements 1 Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food

SUMMARY Following a request from the European Commission to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Scientific Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) was asked to provide a scientific opinion on the safety of sodium monofluorophosphate added for nutritional purposes as a source of fluoride in food supplements and on bioavailability of fluoride from this source. The present opinion deals only with the safety of sodium monofluorophosphate as a source of fluoride and the bioavailability of the fluoride from this source. The safety of fluoride itself, in term of amounts that may be consumed, is outside the remit of this Panel. Available literature on sodium monofluorophosphate and sodium fluoride suggests that sodium monofluorophosphate is hydrolysed in fluoride and phosphate ions and the Panel concludes that fluoride bioavailability will be to an extent comparable to the one from sodium fluoride. The most sensitive effect of fluoride exposure in humans is dental fluorosis and conclusions of comprehensive evaluations indicate that genotoxicity and carcinogenicity are not of concern for fluoride exposure in humans. Long-term clinical interventions trials have suggested that monofluorophosphate is better tolerated than other common sources of fluoride 1 For citation purposes: Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food on a request from the Commission on disodium fluorophosphate added for nutritional purposes to food supplements. The EFSA Journal