Quantum satis

Last updated

Quantum satis (abbreviation q.s. or Q.S.) is a Latin term meaning the amount which is enough. It has its origins as a quantity specification in medicine and pharmacology,[ citation needed ] where a similar term quantum sufficit ("as much as is sufficient") has been used (abbreviated Q.S.). [1] Quantum satis is also used in the same function in food regulations and food safety laws in the European Community (EC/EU).

The specification of quantum satis for an ingredient essentially means "Add as much of this ingredient as is needed to achieve the desired result, but not more."

In food safety regulations in the EU it is a catch-all restriction for artificial food ingredients (especially food additives) which are harmless enough to have no specific quantity restriction.

It serves to protect consumers from the addition of excessive and unnecessary amounts of such artificial food additives in their foodstuffs and compels producers to:

For example, European Union directive 94/36/EC [2] (which regulates the use of food colors) explains in Article 2 (7): "In the Annexes to this Directive 'quantum satis' means that no maximum level is specified. However, coloring matters shall be used according to good manufacturing practice at a level not higher than is necessary to achieve the intended purpose and provided that they do not mislead the customer". [3] The words quantum satis are used with reference to a number of substances in the Annexes III and IV to the EU directive 94/36/EC.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flavoring</span> Food additive used to change its aroma or taste

A flavoring, also known as flavor or flavorant, is a food additive used to improve the taste or smell of food. It changes the perceptual impression of food as determined primarily by the chemoreceptors of the gustatory and olfactory systems. Along with additives, other components like sugars determine the taste of food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E number</span> Codes for food additives

E numbers are codes for substances used as food additives, including those found naturally in many foods such as vitamin C, for use within the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Commonly found on food labels, their safety assessment and approval are the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The fact that an additive has an E number implies that its use was at one time permitted in products for sale in the European Single Market; some of these additives are no longer allowed today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food coloring</span> Substance used to color to food or drink

Food coloring, or color additive, is any dye, pigment, or substance that imparts color when it is added to food or drink. They come in many forms consisting of liquids, powders, gels, and pastes. Food coloring is used in both commercial food production and domestic cooking. Food colorants are also used in a variety of non-food applications, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, home craft projects, and medical devices.

Carmine – also called cochineal, cochineal extract, crimson lake, or carmine lake – is a pigment of a bright-red color obtained from the aluminium complex derived from carminic acid. Specific code names for the pigment include natural red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120. Carmine is also a general term for a particularly deep-red color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunset yellow FCF</span> Chemical compound used as colorant

Sunset yellow FCF is a petroleum-derived orange azo dye with a pH dependent maximum absorption at about 480 nm at pH 1 and 443 nm at pH 13 with a shoulder at 500 nm. When added to foods sold in the United States it is known as FD&C Yellow 6; when sold in Europe, it is denoted by E Number E110.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals</span> European Union regulation

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is a European Union regulation dating from 18 December 2006. REACH addresses the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment. Its 849 pages took seven years to pass, and it has been described as the most complex legislation in the Union's history and the most important in 20 years. It is the strictest law to date regulating chemical substances and will affect industries throughout the world. REACH entered into force on 1 June 2007, with a phased implementation over the next decade. The regulation also established the European Chemicals Agency, which manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of REACH.

The law in the United Kingdom on food information and labelling is multifaceted and is spread over many reforms and parliamentary acts. UK law is based on the relevant European Union rules, chiefly Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, which is implemented in the UK in the Food Information Regulations 2014, the Food Information (Wales) Regulations 2014, the Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 and the Food Information Regulations 2014. Regulations apply to the labelling of goods pre-packaged for sale and to the provision of information regarding non-prepacked (loose) foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azodicarbonamide</span> Chemical compound

Azodicarbonamide, ADCA, ADA, or azo(bis)formamide, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C2H4O2N4. It is a yellow to orange-red, odorless, crystalline powder. It is sometimes called a 'yoga mat' chemical because of its widespread use in foamed plastics. It was first described by John Bryden in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allura Red AC</span> Chemical compound

Allura Red AC is a red azo dye that goes by several names, including FD&C Red 40. It is used as a food dye and has the E number E129.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red 2G</span> Chemical compound

Red 2G is a synthetic red azo dye. It is soluble in water and slightly soluble in glycerol. It usually comes as a disodium salt of 8-acetamido-1-hydroxy-2-phenylazonaphthalene-3,6 disulfonate.

In the experimental (non-clinical) research arena, good laboratory practice or GLP is a quality system of management controls for research laboratories and organizations to ensure the uniformity, consistency, reliability, reproducibility, quality, and integrity of products in development for human or animal health through non-clinical safety tests; from physio-chemical properties through acute to chronic toxicity tests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food contact materials</span> Materials that are intended to be in contact with food

Food contact materials are materials that are intended to be in contact with food. These can be things that are quite obvious like a glass or a can for soft drinks as well as machinery in a food factory or a coffee machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cosmetics Directive</span>

Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products was the main European Union law on the safety of cosmetics. It was made under Art. 100 of the Treaty of Rome. By agreement, it was also applicable in the European Economic Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester</span> Chemical compound

1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH) is a mixture of organic compounds with the formula C6H10(CO2C9H19)2. DINCH is colorless oil. It is used as a plasticizer for the manufacture of flexible plastic articles in sensitive application areas such as toys, medical devices, and food packaging. It is of interest as an alternative for phthalate plasticizers, which are implicated as endocrine disruptors.

<i>Commission v Germany</i> (C-178/84)

Commission v Germany (1987) Case 178/84 is an EU law case, concerning the free movement of goods in the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commission Directive 91/71/EEC</span>

Directive 91/71/EEC is an EU directive passed by the European Commission in 1991 regarding the level of sweeteners, flavourings and additives used in foods by states within the European Union and banning foods that did not comply. The directive was repealed in 2011.

EC Regulation 1223/2009 on cosmetics sets binding requirements for cosmetic products that have been made available on the market within the European Union. Manufacturers of products that fall under the category or cosmetics are required to abide by this regulation as they prepare their initial release of products and while continuing to sell said products within the Member States of the EU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regulation of pesticides in the European Union</span>

A pesticide, also called Plant Protection Product (PPP), which is a term used in regulatory documents, consists of several different components. The active ingredient in a pesticide is called “active substance” and these active substances either consist of chemicals or micro-organisms. The aims of these active substances are to specifically take action against organisms that are harmful to plants. In other words, active substances are the active components against pests and plant diseases.

References

  1. Brewer, E. Cobham (1810–1897). "Q.S." Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. Bartleby.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  2. European Parliament and Council Directive 94/36/EC of 30 June 1994 on colours for use in foodstuffs, Official Journal of the European Communities No L237 of 10.9.94, pp. 13–27 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Translated and copied from de:quantum satis on German Wikipedia