# ADI

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/adi
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

Stands for Acceptable Daily Intake. The amount of a substance, like a food additive, that a person can safely eat or drink every day for their whole life without health risks.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Acceptable Daily Intake. A measure of the amount of a specific substance in food or drinking water that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without an appreciable health risk.

## Examples

- Scientists set the ADI for the new sweetener to keep consumers safe.
- Regulatory agencies calculate the ADI based on long-term toxicological studies, usually applying a safety factor to the highest dose that caused no observed effects.
- While exceeding the ADI on a single occasion is unlikely to cause harm, the metric is designed to ensure that cumulative exposure over several decades remains within safe physiological limits.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the preposition 'for' to specify the substance being measured.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.