Food Safety and Toxicology

EFSA has the mandate to collect data on the occurrence of chemicals in food and feed in relation to various domains (i.e. contaminants, food additives, pesticide residues and veterinary medicinal product residues (VMPRs)) at the level of the European Union. National food authorities, research institutions, academia, food business operators and other stakeholders submit data to EFSA in the SSD2 (Standard Sample Description version 2) format. A crucial prerequisite for reliable dietary exposure and risk assessments is that the occurrence data are harmonised and accurate. Quality issues, inconsistencies or incomplete information may have a considerable impact on the accuracy of the dietary exposure assessments carried out for EFSA’s scientific outputs, especially when these data have been collected from different countries and institutions. Considering that exposure assessment is a critical component of risk assessment, the present report proposes guidance for the resolution of the issues that affect the occurrence data. Although primarily intended for the use of EFSA exposure assessors dealing with cleaning and further adjustments of the occurrence data in relation to contaminants in food and feed, food additives and pesticides residues levels in food, it can be applied by any exposure assessor dealing with the assessment of dietary exposure to food chemicals. The following most commonly occurring issues that can affect the occurrence data used for dietary exposure assessments were identified: sampling strategy, pooled samples, country of origin, date of sampling, analytical method not available, issues related to limit of detection/quantification, data below detection capability, recovery, occurrence data expressed differently than on whole weight, qualitative occurrence data, conversion factors and occurrence data on ‘grains as crops’. The report is designed to introduce these issues and to provide practical instructions on an appropriate approach to address those that are identified during the cleaning and preparation of chemical occurrence data that are being used to estimate dietary exposure.

Food safety and food security can impact the quality of human life, and these two aspects are interrelated alongside many influencing external factors. Global stressors such as climate change, recent pandemic, and geopolitical tensions have demonstrated tangible impacts on food security and safety. Food and food system innovation is a key strategy towards feeding the world in a more sustainable and climate-resilient manner. This paper highlights the use of a science-based risk assessment and management in Singapore’s food safety system, specifically in the integration of exposure assessment approaches to support evidence-based food safety risk analysis and decision-making. The use of complementary top-down and bottom-up exposure assessment approaches through the market monitoring programme, total diet study and human biomonitoring forms a comprehensive integrated exposure assessment strategy which can ultimately inform policy and measures in ensuring and securing a supply of safe food. The discussion on such application for chemical food safety in Singapore offers additional insights into the synergistic inter-relationships contributing to the exposure assessment associated with chemicals in food.

Human exposure and internal dose assessments of acrylamide in food

Background to the topic: For food safety and security reasons, hundreds of pesticides, veterinary drugs, and environmental pollutants should be monitored in the food supply, but current methods are too time-consuming, laborious, and expensive. As a result, only a tiny fraction of the food is tested for a limited number of contaminants. Original proposal objectives: Our main original goal was to develop fast, practical, and effective new approaches for the analysis of hazardous chemicals in the food supply. We proposed to extend the QuEChERS approach to more pesticides, veterinary drugs and pollutants, further develop GC-MS and LC-MS with SMB and combine QuEChERS with GC-SMB-MS and LC-SMB-EI-MS to provide the “ultimate” approach for the analysis of hazardous chemicals in food. Major conclusions, solutions and achievements: The original QuEChERS method was validated for more than 200 pesticide residues in a variety of food crops. For the few basic pesticides for which the method gave lower recoveries, an extensive solvent suitability study was conducted, and a buffering modification was made to improve results for difficult analytes. Furthermore, evaluation of the QuEChERS approach for fatty matrices, including olives and its oil, was performed. The QuEChERS concept was also extended to acrylamide analysis in foods. Other advanced techniques to improve speed, ease, and effectiveness of chemical residue analysis were also successfully developed and/or evaluated, which include: a simple and inexpensive solvent-in-silicone-tube extraction approach for highly sensitive detection of nonpolar pesticides in GC; ruggedness testing of low-pressure GC-MS for 3-fold faster separations; optimization and extensive evaluation of analyte protectants in GC-MS; and use of prototypical commercial automated direct sample introduction devices for GC-MS. GC-MS with SMB was further developed and combined with the Varian 1200 GCMS/ MS system, resulting in a new type of GC-MS with advanced capabilities. Careful attention was given to the subject of GC-MS sensitivity and its LOD for difficult to analyze samples such as thermally labile pesticides or those with weak or no molecular ions, and record low LOD were demonstrated and discussed. The new approach of electron ionization LC-MS with SMB was developed, its key components of sample vaporization nozzle and flythrough ion source were improved and was evaluated with a range of samples, including carbamate pesticides. A new method and software based on IAA were developed and tested on a range of pesticides in agricultural matrices. This IAA method and software in combination with GC-MS and SMB provide extremely high confidence in sample identification. A new type of comprehensive GCxGC (based on flow modulation) was uniquely combined with GC-MS with SMB, and we demonstrated improved pesticide separation and identification in complex agricultural matrices using this novel approach. An improved device for aroma sample collection and introduction (SnifProbe) was further developed and favorably compared with SPME for coffee aroma sampling. Implications, both scientific and agricultural: We succeeded in achieving significant improvements in the analysis of hazardous chemicals in the food supply, from easy sample preparation approaches, through sample analysis by advanced new types of GC-MS and LCMS techniques, all the way to improved data analysis by lowering LOD and providing greater confidence in chemical identification. As a result, the combination of the QuEChERS approach, new and superior instrumentation, and the novel monitoring methods that were developed will enable vastly reduced time and cost of analysis, increased analytical scope, and a higher monitoring rate. This provides better enforcement, an added impetus for farmers to use good agricultural practices, improved food safety and security, increased trade, and greater consumer confidence in the food supply.

In the modern world, chemicals are ubiquitous, and humans, animals and species in the environment are exposed to an increasing number, both of anthropogenic and natural origin. Chemical risk assessment in the food and feed safety areas involves a wide range of disciplines and research areas such as chemistry, biology, toxicology and epidemiology, biostatistics and modelling. The purpose of a chemical risk assessment is to quantify chemical exposures from relevant sources and routes of exposure (inhalation, oral, dermal through air, water/food, skin) for a given population or species (exposure assessment), determine safe levels for such chemicals (hazard identification and characterisation) and quantify the risk associated with such exposures (risk characterisation). This chapter aims to introduce the reader to the principles of risk assessment of chemicals in food and feed together with some examples and future perspectives to move towards holistic approaches. Exposure assessment aims to investigate how much of a chemical an organism is exposed to, through the detection and quantification of chemical residues in food and feed matrices (occurrence) and the level of food or feed consumption. Particular emphasis is placed on the need to consider the relevant analytical techniques available and food consumption databases. Hazard identification and characterisation requires the consideration of three key aspects with regards to chemical toxicity: (1) what the body does to a chemical (toxicokinetics), (2) what a chemical does to the body (toxicodynamics) and (3) approaches to derive safe levels of chemicals in humans and animal species. Risk characterisation brings the exposure and hazard dimensions together and provides means to quantify health risks for a given population or species after single and multiple chemical exposures (‘chemical mixtures’). Future perspectives are highlighted to move towards a One Health approach while considering humans, animal species and the environment in an integrated manner.

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Microbes such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and S. aureus have been implicated in Foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDOs) worldwide, yet information on their occurrence in Barbados is scanty. The purpose of this study was to determine the aetiological agents, food vehicles, locations and peak seasons of FBDOs in Barbados; assess the quality of epidemiological investigations; and identify deficiencies in food production practices and laboratory detection. A search of FBDOs occurring in Barbados between 1998-2009 was conducted among published and unpublished literature sources and reports. The search terms included the keywords "foodborne disease," "outbreaks" and "Barbados". During the period 1998 to 2009, there were 24 foodborne outbreaks, 215 cases of illness, one hospitalisation and no deaths. Overall, 37.5% of outbreaks were associated with hotels/resorts. Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 8 was most commonly implicated with eggs and poultry being the primary vehicles. Three outbreak reports were available for assessment and revealed that there were deficiencies in the outbreak investigations. These reports also recorded high levels of food contamination with indicator organisms, suggesting that improvements in food hygiene and production practices were required. The number of FBDOs is low in comparison to developed countries. However, the data was likely affected by under-reporting and inadequacies in the outbreak investigations and laboratory detection. Improvements in these areas would lead to not only better detection and characterisation of FBDOs in Barbados but improved food safety control measures.

Malnutrition, in all its forms, during the critical stages of child growth and development can have lifelong impacts on health and well-being. While most forms of malnutrition can be prevented with simple dietary interventions, both undernutrition and overnutrition remain persistent and burdensome challenges for large portions of the global population, especially for young children who are dependent on others for nourishment. In addition to dietary factors, children’s health also faces the growing challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, pollution, and infectious disease. Food production and consumption practices both sit at the nexus of these issues, and both must be significantly transformed if we are to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Food sources (i.e., animal-source foods vs. plant-source foods), food production practices, the effects of food processing, the impacts of a more globalized food system, and food loss and waste have all been receiving growing attention in health and sustainability research and policy discussions. Much of this work points to recommendations to reduce resource-intensive animal-source foods, heavily processed foods, and foods associated with excessive waste and pollution, while simultaneously increasing plant-source options. However, some of these recommendations require a little more nuance when considered in the context of issues such as global child health. All types of foods can play significant roles in providing essential nutrition for children across the globe, and for improving the well-being and livelihoods of their families and communities. Dairy foods provide a prime example of this need for nuance, as both dairy production practices and consumption patterns vary greatly throughout the world, as do their impacts on child health and food system sustainability. The objective of this narrative review is to highlight the role of dairy in supporting child health in the context of food system sustainability. When considering child health within this context it is recommended to take a holistic approach that considers all four domains of sustainability (health, economics, society, and the environment) to better weigh trade-offs, optimize outcomes, and avoid unintended consequences. To ensure that children have access to nutritious and safe foods within sustainable food systems, special consideration of their needs must be included within the broader food systems transformation narrative.

PROTOCOL: Impact of the food environment on diet-related health outcomes in school-age children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

ABSTRACTDietary exposure of the Valencia Region population to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and PCBs was assessed in the Region of Valencia in 2010–2011. A total of 7700 food samples were collected. Occurrence data were combined with consumption data to estimate dietary exposure in adults (>15 years of age) and young people (6–15 years of age). The estimated intake was calculated by a probabilistic approach. Average intake levels (upper-bound scenario) were 1.58 and 2.76 pg toxic equivalent (TEQ) kg−1 body weight (bw) day−1 for adults and young people, respectively. These average intakes are within range of the tolerable daily intake of 1–4 pg WHO-TEQ kg−1 bw day−1 recommended by WHO, and slightly above the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 14 pg TEQ kg−1 bw week−1 and the Provisional tolerable monthly intake of 70 pg TEQ kg−1 bw month−1 set by the Scientific Committee on Food and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food, respectively. These results show that the contamination levels in food and therefore the exposure of the general population to PCDD/Fs and PCBs have declined in this region and therefore show the efficiency of the European risk-management measures. In terms of risk characterisation, the results showed that, under the upper-bound scenario, 22% of the adult and 58% of the young people population could exceed the TWI.

According to widespread public opinion, environmental contaminants and food additives are major chemical hazards in food. In contrast, scientific evidence shows that levels of environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals or residues of pesticides, have greatly decreased in the last three decades and are much below the tolerable limits; food additives are strictly regulated and their proper use justifies no food safety concerns. The concept that a “de minimis” value or a Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) can be identified for any chemical is gaining ground in food toxicology. The popular belief that compounds of natural origin are intrinsically safer than synthetic ones is not supported by scientific evidence. - Nutrition oriented cancer research in the past was preoccupied with the idea that food contained man-made carcinogenic substances. Their detection and elimination was thought to reduce and perhaps avoid the risk of cancer. A paradigmatic change has occurred: from the hunt for carcinogenic chemicals in food, research has moved to the study of food constituents preventing cancer and to their mechanism of action. The occurrence of health-promoting food constituents forms the basis of the present interest in “functional foods”. However, criminal actions leading to hazardous contamination of food do occur, the Spanish oil catastrophe of 1981 being an extreme example of this. Continued vigilance will be required to protect consumers from unsafe products.

Hazard identification by methods of animal-based toxicology

As a result of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) concern about lead in the food supply, considerable data have been developed in recent years by FDA, other agencies, and industry on the levels of lead in foods. Data obtained on the lead content of milk, eggs, meat, fish, and shellfish indicate that the mean levels in these unprocessed foods varied from 0.02 to about 0.4 ppm, with the lowest level in milk. The major food processing source of lead in food is the lead-soldered can. FDA had assigned top priority to the reduction of lead in foods for infants because of their greater susceptibility to the toxic effects of this metal. The lead levels in foods for infants are now only 1/5 to 1/10 of what they were when FDA expressed its concern about lead to the manufacturers of canned infant formula, evaporated milk, canned infant juices, and glass-packed infant foods. FDA priority interest has now shifted to reduction of lead in adult canned foods, especially those eaten by young children. The mean levels in such foods have decreased from 0.35-0.40 ppm in 1974 to 0.20-0.25 ppm in 1980.