Food Additive Mixtures in French Children and Adults: the Nationally Representative Esteban Study

This study aimed to identify exposures to food additives and their mixtures in a nationally representative sample of French adults and children. Using repeated 24-hour dietary recalls and food records (including commercial brand information) from the cross-sectional Esteban survey (France, 2016), additive intake was estimated by merging with multiple food composition databases, and laboratory assays in food matrices. Non-negative matrix factorisation was used to identify additive mixtures. Their associations with sociodemographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors were assessed using survey-weighted regressions. A total of 2,177 adults (18–74 years old) and 1,279 children (6–17 years old) were included. Mean daily additive intake was 4.42 g/day in adults and 5.08 g/day in children. Sixty additives were consumed by at least 5