Abstract

For the food additive EDTA the WHO allocated an ADI of 2.5 mg/kg body weight in 1974. The complexing agent EDTA may affect the metabolism of metal ions ; this aspect was not discussed in detail in the 1974 evaluation of the WHO. In particular effects due to the binding of zinc ions are reported in literature. The report offers an exploratory discussion of EDTA-Zn interaction and its toxicological impact. An evaluation of the ADI with respect to the possible adverse effect of EDTA on zinc metabolism is not possible without additional experimental data.