Chemical Risks

The Catalonian Food Safety Agency (ACSA) has published the results of the exposure assessment of Patulin in food during the period 2008-2009, and analyzed the associated human health risk. In this forth chapter, ACSA has published the results of intake of Patulin present in apple food and beverage products.

The results showed that the exposure of Catalonian population to Patulin is below the safety levels established by TDI.

Patulin assessment

Methodology

Food consumption

A total of 2183 food samples collected between 2007 and 2012, and with analytical data on the four aflatoxins of interest, were available in the database. Among the samples, 1341 corresponded to cereals and their milling products and 842 to processed cereal products. Rice (636 samples) and breakfast cereals (346 samples) were the categories with the highest number of samples reported. Some 1964 samples (90%) did not report quantified values for any of the four aflatoxins.

EFSA Report on Aflatoxins in Europe

The Catalonian Food Safety Agency (ACSA) has published the results of the exposure assessment of Ocratoxin A in food during the period 2008-2009, and analyzed the associated human health risk. In this second part, ACSA has published the results of intake of ocratoxin A present in cereals and derivated products (beer, infant food, sliced bread), coffee and wine.

The results showed that the exposure of Catalonian population to Ocratoxin A is below the safety levels established by EFSA.

Ocratoxin A assessment

Methodology

Food consumption

The Catalonian Food Safety Agency (ACSA) has published the results of the exposure assessment of fumonisins in food during the period 2008-2009, and analyzed the associated human health risk.

In this second part, ACSA has published the results of intake of fumonisins B1 y B2 present in cereals and derivated products.

The results showed that the exposure of Catalonian population to those two mycotoxins is below the safety levels

Introduction

Methodology

Food consumption

Fumonisins B1 y B2 assessment

The Catalonian Food Safety Agency (ACSA) has published the results of the exposure assessment of micotoxins in food during the period 2008-2009, and analyzed the associated human health risk.

In this first part, ACSA has published the results of intake of aflatoxins B and G present in dried fruit and B1 present in milk and dairy products.

The results showed that the exposure of Catalonian population to aflatoxins B and G contaminants is close to the safety levels, whereas the aflatoxin M1 is below to the safety levels, including for the vulnerable population groups (celiac and infants).

Introduction
Methodology
Food consumption
A B & G flatoxins B & G
Aflatoxin M1

Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feed.

Article

The last decade, an increase of micotoxins in food and feed has been ocurred, mainly, due to the climate change effects, which make the funghi (mycotoxin-producing) grow in field crops. Therefore, the Food Safety Agencies are dealing them as pobrable emerging risks.

This article summarises the main micotoxins in food and feed, their harmful effect on human health, and measures to reduce the mycotoxins contamination.

Citrinin is a mycotoxin produced by several species of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Monascus and occurs mainly in stored grains.

EFSA opinion on Citrinin

A total of 20,519 results for the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in food, feed and unprocessed grains, collected in 2005-2010 from 22 European countries, were used in this EFSA evaluation.

EFSA Risk Assessment on Trichothecenes

The FSA has commissioned a four-year rolling surveillance programme to quantify a number of mycotoxins in a variety of foods. Here the report of the results of the second year of surveillance.

The European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority to review the safety of Alternaria toxins in food and feed. In addition to causing plant diseases on many crops such as cereals, oilseeds, tomatoes, apples and olives, some of these toxins are genotoxic in vitro and/or fetotoxic in rats.

Article

The European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority to review the safety of zearalenone and the risk to consumers of a possible increase of the maximum level (ML) for zearalenone in breakfast cereals. A total of 13,075 analytical results obtained on food samples and 9,877 results on unprocessed grains sampled by 19 European countries in 2005 2010 were used in the evaluation.

Full Report

This FSA report summarizes the results from a survey investigating the presence of mycotoxins in a range of cereals and cereal products available on the UK retail market, including wheat, maize, oats, rye and barley products.

Report on mycotoxins in cereals

This report considers examples of the influence of different factors on two major food crops and of some specific mycotoxins, as well as available data on inherent plant toxins. Attention is drawn to those areas where data are scarce. The term “inherent plant toxins” is used in this paper because most of the examples presented focus on plant compounds that cause a toxic effect at the levels found in the plant.

Report on Natural toxins in crops

The aim of the current study was to collect, compile and synthesise data on T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin, including contamination of food and feed commodities and products thereof in Europe.

The available data show that oats can be highly contaminated with T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin, with frequently high incidence and concentration.

The occurrence and concentration of T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin in barley has increased across Europe since 2004, and stabilized at an incidence of about 80%. Contamination in the resulting malt used for beer production has also increased.

In some occasions, maize is contaminated with T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin, usually at a moderate level. T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin contamination of wheat occurs very infrequently and at a low concentration level.

Feed products that can be highly contaminated include by-products from oat processing (pellets). Food products generally show low incidence and concentration of T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin, however, oat products may contain the two mycotoxins.

Report on T-2 y HT-2

Trichothecene mycotoxins can be present in plants and derived products thereof and therefore might be of concern for human and/or animal health. T-2 and HT-2 toxin are secondary fungal metabolites belonging to the group of type A trichothecenes and are primarily produced by Fusarium species.

Fusarium fungi are probably the most prevalent toxin-producing fungi of the northern temperate regions but T-2 toxin and related mycotoxins are present worldwide.

EFSA Report on T-2 and HT-2 toxins

A meeting of the FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JEFCA) was held in Rome, Italy, from 16 to 25 february 2010. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate 6 food contaminants: Acrylamide, Arsenic, Deoxynivalenol, Furan, Mercury and Perchlorate.

Full document

IFST´s updated new information statement provides an overview on mycotoxins including health implications, toxicological effects, regulatory limits, analytical methods and prevention and control.

Statement

The Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has published a Manual in which it reviews the principles of Hazard and Critical Control Point Analysis and develops a plan to apply this to the control of micotoxins (aphlatoxins, tricothecens, zearalenona, fumonisins, ocratoxin A and patulin).

The EFSA issued a statement on possible public health risks for infants and young children from the presence of nitrates in leafy vegetables.

Nitrate exposure at the current or proposed maximum levels for nitrate in spinach cooked from fresh is unlikely to be a health concern, although a risk for some infants eating more than one spinach meal in a day cannot be excluded.

EFSA Statement Nitrate in leafy vegetables

The CONTAM Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued an opinion on nitrates in vegetables comparing the risk and benefits. Overall, the estimated exposures to nitrate from vegetables are unlikely to result in appreciable health risks, therefore the recognised beneficial effects of consumption of vegetables prevail. The Panel recognised that there are occasional circumstances e.g. unfavourable local/home production conditions for vegetables which constitute a large part of the diet, or individuals with a diet high in vegetables such as rucola which need to be assessed on a case by case basis.

For the assessment of multiple residues in regulatory practice, the BfR recommends that the cumulative risk be evaluated by means of the determination and addition of hazard indices (HI) for the individual active substances. This is a simple and fast method which provides consumers with adequate protection at the same time and which can be refined step-by-step if necessary by including additional toxicological information. The hazard index is a measure of the extent to which the residue of an active substance ingested via food reaches its toxicological limit values (ADI, ARfD). In addition, the cumulative assessment groups to which the individual substances are classified due to their toxicological effect should not be too big. It would be preferable to use deterministic methods to estimate cumulative exposure

BfR cumulative risk of pesticides

The latest available Europe-wide testing programme of pesticides in food has found that over 97% of samples contained residue levels that fall within permissible limits, said the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The European Union Report on Pesticide Residues in Foods also assessed dietary exposure and concluded the chemical residues on the foods analysed did not pose a long-term risk to consumer health. The evaluation of short-term dietary exposure excluded a risk to consumers from 99.6% of food samples.

The fourth annual report, published today, gives an overview of pesticide residues found in food in 2010 in the 27 EU Member States, as well as Iceland and Norway[1]. As part of this analysis, EFSA tested an innovative approach to dietary exposure known as cumulative risk assessment. In contrast to established techniques that evaluate pesticide residues individually, this approach considers the potential effects of combined exposure to a number of chemicals that have similar toxicological properties.

EFSA Pesticides Unit head Herman Fontier said: "This annual report on pesticide residues makes important recommendations for improved monitoring at national and EU level. It ensures risk managers have the most accurate and relevant information upon which to make decisions."

EFSA

The Catalonian Food Safety Agency (ACSA) has published the results of the exposure assessment of persistent organic pollutans (POPs) such as DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorocyclohexane, endosulfan and alachlor via food comsuption during the year 2005-2007.

Exposure assessment to COPs for the Catalonian Population

Monographs containing summaries or residue data and toxicological data considered at the 2011 JMPR, together with recommendations, are available upon request from FAO or WHO.

Full report

Data on pesticide residue analytical survey on Spanish food in 2010.

Data report pesticides Spain

The report presents the results of the control of pesticide residues in food commodities sampled during the calendar year 2009 in the 27 EU Member States and two EFTA countries (Iceland and Norway). The report also comprises the outcome of the consumer risk assessment of pesticide residues. Finally, the report provides some recommendations aiming to improve future monitoring programmes and enforcement of the European pesticide residue legislation.

The consumer risks of active substances are evaluated considering one substance at a time, which gives crucial information, but as such cannot give an overall picture of dietary exposure. The probability of dietary exposure was estimated by cumulative simulation methods. For the first time in Finland exposure estimation in acute setting and also among sensitive groups, such as young children, has been carried out. The cumulative risk assessment presented herein is based on research results gained in control of 250 pesticides residues from a total of 10,565 foodstuff samples.

While chronic exposure to pesticide residues did not raise any concerns, the situation in acute exposure setting cannot be considered equally good. Carbamates and organophosphates resulted in aRfD exceedances among adults and children with a probability higher than 0,01% and 0,1%, respectively. Although the most important underlying carbamates and organophosphates are not used in Finland any more, current situation does not in all respects fulfil the goals set for the level of protection, because, organophosphates and carbamates are mostly found in products (spinach, cucumber, apple, salad and beans) imported into the EU.

Consequently, the Finish Agency concluded that the exposure of three-year old children to carbamates and organophosphates requires further attention, and the exposure to pesticides residues can be reduced by eating a varied range of fruit and vegetables.

Cumulative risk assessment on plant protection products

Dietary Risk Assessment on Pesticide Residues in Food -FAO/OMS- 2010 The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and the WHO (World Health Organization) Core Assessment Group on Pesticide Residues had a meeting last September 2010 to perform Risk Assessment of Residues of 22 Pesticide in food, from long-term and short-term dietary intake. As a result, the international estimate of short-term dietary intake (IESTI) of two pesticides exceeded the acute reference dose (ARfD), bifenthrin on strawberries and triazophos in rice.

In order to strengthen its dietary risk assessments, the Meeting strongly recommends:

• Refine the estimation of the short-term dietary intake of pesticides and the interpretation of the outcomes of short-term dietary risk assessment, including characterization of uncertainties.
• Update the Food Consumption Data used for these assessments (GEMS/Food Programme) by the Codex Member States, to ensure that the Panels use the best available, reliable and current data.

2010 FAO/OMS Report on Pesticide Residues in Food

The report gives an overview of the control activities performed by EU Member States and EFSA countries in order to ensure compliance of food with the standards defined in European legislation on pesticide residues.

The majority of samples taken were produced in one of the European reporting countries (77%), while 20% of the samples were taken from imported consignments or lots. For 3 % of the samples the origin was not reported.

2008 Annual Report on Pesticide Residues

Report of the Joint Meeting of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and WHO the Core Assessment Group.

2009 Report

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cereals, vegetables and smoked foods Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in a range of cereals, cereal products, vegetables, vegetable products and traditionally smoked foods. A total of 230 samples of the targeted foods were tested for 28 PAH compounds.

The higher concentrations of PAHs were generally found in traditionally smoked fish products, with 4 out of 73 samples exceeding the current limit for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in smoked fish. In consequence, local enforcement authorities provided advice on the steps that the companies should take to reduce PAH levels to achieve compliance.

Since there are no regulatory limits for PAHs in cereals and vegetables, the FSA carried out a risk assessment for these food groups which showed that these food groups provide a minor contribution to exposure to four PAHs that provide an indicator of the presence of PAHs in food.

In general, the PAHs measured in this survey (including those known to be more harmful to health) were found at low levels. Then, the FSA established that there is no need for consumers to change their eating habits.

FSA PAHs intake

The ACSA has published the first results of the Total Diet Study in Catalonia 2008, which provides data on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) intake by the diet of the Catalans.

ACSA Total Diet Study 2008

The Finnish Food Safety Authority implemented a control project in 2005, in which the presence of PAH compounds in smoked fish products was investigated. When the skin is then removed, the level of PAH compounds decreases. The results indicated that a higher benzo(a)pyrene level is associated with a higher content of total PAH compounds.

More information

The presence of unauthorised substances, residues of veterinary medicinal products or chemical contaminants in food may pose a risk factor for public health.

Report - EFSA

This project aimed at obtaining experimental data related to the uptake of coccidiostats authorised in the European Union particularly in vegetables grown on poultry manure-amended soils -An animal trial (poultry) and a plant trial (carrot, lettuce, potato, tomato and courgette)-.

EFSA Report: Coccidiostats in Vegetables

This report summarises the monitoring data from 2010 on the presence of residues of veterinary medicinal products and certain substances in live animals and animal products in the European Union.

Residues of veterinary medicinal products in live animals and animal products 2010

Seventy-fith meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

Report

The present report summarises the 764 736 monitoring data available from 2009 in the 27 Member States. There were 1 406 non-compliant samples (0.32 %) out of the total targeted samples. The frequency of non-compliant samples within the substance groups was 0.46 % for antithyroid agents, 0.39 % for steroids, 0.17 % for resorcylic acid lactones, 0.01 % for betaagonists, 0.07 % for prohibited substances, 0.21 % for antibacterials, 0.16 % for anthelmintics, 1 % for anticoccidials, 0.02 % for carbamates and pyrethroids, 0.11 % for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and 0.21 % for other pharmacologically active substances.

EFSA Report

This report summarized the 2008 results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in food of animal origin in the Member States.

A total of over 750,000 targeted samples were reported, of which less than 2,000 (0.27%) results were found to be over the legal limits. The frequency of non-compliant results (i.e. those which exceeded maximum limits) was similar to that found in previous years for most regulated veterinary medicines.

EFSA Report