Acceptable daily intake: inception, evolution, and application.

The acceptable daily intake (ADI) approach to toxicological evaluation was initiated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives in 1961. The procedure involves collecting all relevant data, ascertaining the completeness of the available data, determining the no-effect level using the most sensitive indicator of the toxicity, and applying an appropriate safety factor to arrive at the ADI for man. This procedure was also adopted by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting of Experts on Pesticide Residues later in 1961. In the ensuing years, hundreds of food additives and pesticide residues have been evaluated and reevaluated by these two international expert groups. The ADIs, used nationally and internationally in the elaboration of food standards, have proved satisfactory in permitting the judicious use of these chemicals and in protecting the health of the consumer. The success of this endeavor over the years can be attributed to the dedication and hard work of the many international experts involved as well as to the cooperation of the chemical industry in submitting all relevant published and unpublished data. It is envisaged that this approach will continue to be followed in evaluating and reevaluating additives, pesticides, and contaminants, and that it will likely be extended to other situations where toxicological evaluation forms the scientific basis of control measures.