Preparing for future challenges in risk assessment in the European Union

Relevance of gut microbiome research in food safety assessment

The gut microbiome is indispensable for the host physiological functioning. Yet, the impact of non-nutritious dietary compounds on the human gut microbiota and the role of the gut microbes in their metabolism and potential adverse biological effects have been overlooked. Identifying potential hazards and benefits would contribute to protecting and harnessing the gut microbiome's role in supporting human health. We discuss the evidence on the potential detrimental impact of certain food additives and microplastics on the gut microbiome and human health, with a focus on underlying mechanisms and causality. We provide recommendations for the incorporation of gut microbiome science in food risk assessment and identify the knowledge and tools needed to fill these gaps. The incorporation of gut microbiome endpoints to safety assessments, together with well-established toxicity and mutagenicity studies, might better inform the risk assessment of certain contaminants in food, and/or food additives.