EFSA Research Articles

Animal welfare during transport, evolution, and perspectives of European Union Legislation and Policy.

In the one health approach, which summarizes the concept that human, animal, and plant health are interdependent and linked to the ecosystems in which they exist, animal welfare assumes an important role. In addition, the Farm to Fork Strategy of the European Union recognizes animal welfare as an essential component. Transport of animals involves a number of issues related to welfare. Animals are subjected to continuous stress, not only during transit on vehicles, vessels, trains, or airplanes, but also during loading and unloading operations. The handling and transport conditions have improved from basic and relatively rudimentary systems, with elements to attenuate the discomfort of animals having been gradually introduced, especially for long-distance transport. Despite several improvements in animal welfare standards during transportation there are still pressing issues in current EU legislation which deserve reviewing. Recently, several scientific opinions on animal welfare, including during transport, have been published by the European Food Safety Agency, following requests by the European Commission. In addition, the European Court of Auditors published its last report focused on animal welfare during transport. These reports underline the need to review current legislation governing the topic and highlight a number of outstanding issues in the European Union and in Third Countries. This article summarizes the history and current status of this complex issue.

Is Japan at low risk for PFAS immunotoxicity?: human biomonitoring study in contaminated areas in Japan.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are now considered global contaminants posing health risks. Recent human biomonitoring data in Japan are presented. Human biomonitoring data from Japan, dating back to 2000, were reviewed. In addition, 399 serum samples collected in a primary care clinic in Urayasu City, Okinawa Island-one of the highest PFAS-exposed areas in Japan-between 2021 and 2022 were analyzed. Serum levels of four PFAS were compared with risk levels based on the assessment by Sonne et al. and the European Food Safety Agency. The PFAS levels in the general population from various areas other than Hokkaido (16.1-43.5 ng/mL) are classified at moderate to severe risk for immunotoxicity based on the assessment. A portion of the Japanese population has had high exposure to PFAS and was at high risk of immunotoxicity, and this situation remained in PFAS-contaminated areas in the 2020s.

Assessment of genetically modified maize MON 810 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (dossier GMFF-2022-9450).

Following the submission of dossier GMFF-2022-9450 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer Agriculture BV, the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect protected genetically modified maize MON 810, for food and feed uses (including pollen), excluding cultivation within the European Union. The data received in the context of this renewal application contained post-market environmental monitoring reports, an evaluation of the literature retrieved by a scoping review, additional studies performed by or on behalf of the applicant and updated bioinformatics analyses. The GMO Panel assessed these data for possible new hazards, modified exposure or new scientific uncertainties identified during the authorisation period and not previously assessed in the context of the original application. Under the assumption that the DNA sequence of the event in maize MON 810 considered for renewal is identical to the sequence of the originally assessed event, the GMO Panel concludes that there is no evidence in dossier GMFF-2022-9450 for new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on maize MON 810.

Adherence to Dietary Recommendations in Organized Living Beneficiaries with Severe Mental Disorders and Their Caregivers.

People with severe mental disorders often require special care. Other than institutionalized care, some organizations provide housing options and special care in the form of organized living. Few studies provide a detailed description of nutrient intake in this type of care. The aim of this prospective study was to assess nutritional status and adherence to dietary recommendations in both people with mental disorders (beneficiaries) and their caregivers. Across three levels of care, 46 beneficiaries and 19 caregivers participated in the study. The mean intakes of energy (kcal/day) and macro- and micronutrients (g/day) were estimated from a 3-day dietary record and compared with dietary reference values (DRVs) set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The majority of participants did not meet energy intake recommendations (kcal/day). The contribution of total fat to energy intake (% E) was higher than recommended in both beneficiaries and caregivers with 42.1 ± 4.4% and 38.5 ± 6.5%, respectively. A total of 45.2% of beneficiaries and 61.1% of caregivers had their carbohydrate intake within the recommended range. Fiber intake was well below the recommendations (25 g/day) in all groups. Across all levels of care, lower micronutrient intake for pantothenic acid, biotin, folate, potassium, magnesium, copper, selenium, and iodine was observed. Based on the current results, the development and implementation of nutritional guidelines may be targeted to specific populations and nutrient intakes.

Biodiversity and Safety: Cohabitation Experimentation in Undefined Starter Cultures for Traditional Dairy Products

Natural starter cultures, characterised by undefined microbiota, can contribute to the technological process, giving peculiar characteristics to artisanal fermented foods. Several species have a long history of safe use and have obtained Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) status from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), whereas others (non-QPS) could represent a potential risk for consumers’ health and must undergo a safety assessment. In this work, the biodiversity, at species and strain level, by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and (GTG)5 rep-PCR, of an undefined natural starter culture, in frozen and lyophilized form, obtained from ewe’s raw milk avoiding thermal treatment or microbial selection, was investigated. The culture was constituted by different biotypes of Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus salivarius were also found, over species belonging to the Streptococcus bovis–Streptococcus equinus complex (SBSEC), like Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. macedonicus, Streptococcus lutetiensis, and Streptococcus equinus. Molecular investigation on virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, as well as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, revealed that all the non-QPS strains can be considered safe in the perspective of using this culture for cheesemaking. The obtainment of a natural culture directly from ewe’s raw milk bypassing thermal treatment and selection of pro-technological bacteria can be advantageous in terms of biodiversity preservation, but non-QPS microorganisms can be included in the natural starter and also in cheeses, especially in traditional ones obtained from fermenting raw milk. Following EFSA guidelines, artisanal factories should not be allowed to produce starter cultures by themselves from raw milk, running the risk of including some non-QPS species in their culture, and only selected starters could be used for cheesemaking. A revision of the criteria of QPS guidelines should be necessary.

Essential and non-essential metals in coconut milk: Determination, chemometric analysis, and risk assessment study

Due to the widespread metal contamination in plant-based foods, food safety is a major global public concern. The growing demand for plant-based beverages in the market has emphasized the need to conduct research on the metal composition of these products. This study aimed to examine the concentrations of essential and non-essential metals in coconut milk collected from a commercial market located in Lahore-Punjab, Pakistan. Twenty samples (10 commercial milk and 10 extracted milk) were analysed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). In addition, the current study investigates the distribution, correlation, and chemometric assessment of 13 metals (Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Al, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb and Ba). The concentration ranges of essential metals vary over a wide range for Mg (43.8–687.5 mg/L), Ca (127.7–606.5 mg/L), Mn (0.64–22.3 mg/L), Fe (12.4–91.6 mg/L), Co (1.2–5.5 mg/L), Cu (1.9–10.8 mg/L), and Zn (1.3–9.9 mg/L). While, the concentration ranges of non-essential metals vary over a range for Al (0.016–0.093 mg/L), Cr (0.19–0.91 mg/L), Ni (0.11–0.99 mg/L), Cd (0.01–0.02 mg/L), Pb (0.01–0.02 mg/L), and Ba (0.13–0.93 mg/L). Tolerable dietary intake (TDI) values for Cr, Ni and provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) value for Cd were higher than the value established by World Health Organization (WHO) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The higher values of TDI and PTMI indicate that these metals might be harmful to human health through the consumption of coconut milk. The computed values of the target hazard quotient (THQ < 1), the hazard index (HI < 1), and the cumulative cancer risk (CCR) ranged from 8.2 × 10−5 to 1.0 × 10−4 which indicated low risk of exposure to metals through consumption of coconut milk. From a dietary and food safety perspective, the study is important for users of plant-based beverages.

DETECTION OF RHODAMINE VIA SURFACE ENHANCED RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY UTILISING AG NANOWIRES

Rhodamine, which is extensively used as a synthetic dye in food industry, is regarded as an illegal additive by European Food Safety Authority because of its carcinogenic and toxicological properties. Since it’s a colourless material at low concentrations such as 10-7 M, its detection via spectroscopical methods is very challenging and crucial in terms of food safety issues. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) provides a fast and cheap method for detection of such molecules at ultra-low concentrations. It is based on the principle of boosting Raman signals, which have low intensity by nature, by utilising metal nanoparticles in order to enhance Raman signals by creating hot-spots. In this study Ag nanowires were synthesized, their crystal structure is characterized via XRD analysis, their surface morphology and radius are determined via SEM images and EDS analysis was performed for determining their chemical composition. Afterwards, rhodamine solutions which were prepared at 10-4 – 10-7 M was dropcasted onto Ag nanowire solutions. After selecting three characteristic Raman peaks belonging to the Rhodamine molecule, which are located at 612, 1189 and 1362 cm-1, detection of Rhodamine was performed at these ultra low concentrations. As a result, one can conclude that, Ag nanowires can be utilized as possible SERS substrates for detection of Rhodamine at low concentrations by exhibiting significant reproducibility, stability and recyclability.

Caffeine intake and its association with nutrition, sleep, and physical activity among schoolchildren in the United Arab Emirates: a national cross-sectional study.

Recent surveys indicate a significant increase in total caffeine intake among schoolchildren. Limited research has been published concerning the total intake of caffeine among schoolchildren in the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including the UAE. This cross-sectional survey estimated the total caffeine intake from foods and beverages among 10,275 schoolchildren in the UAE. Caffeine intakes were related to the European Food Safety Authority's level of no safety concern (3.0 mg/kg BW) and level of effects on sleep (1.4 mg/kg BW). More than half (56.2%) of the students consumed more than 100 mg (the upper limit allowed) of caffeine from dietary sources. High intake of caffeine (> 100 mg/day) was significantly associated (p = 0.001) with reduced sleep duration, difficulty falling asleep, infrequent exercising, using smart devices for more than 2 h a day, getting a lower GPA, skipping breakfast, eating fewer servings of vegetables than recommended, frequent consumption of fast food and more frequent snack consumption. Excessive intake of caffeine from different dietary sources coexists with unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors and sleep problems. Tailoring educational programs and intervention strategies is warranted to correct the unhealthy intake of caffeine and the associated unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors among schoolchildren in the UAE.

Assessment of Novel Proteins Triggering Celiac Disease via Docking-Based Approach.

Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are pivotal in antigen processing, presenting to CD4+ T cells, and are linked to autoimmune disease susceptibility. In celiac disease, HLA-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ8.1 bind gluten peptides on APCs, some recognized by CD4+ T cells, prompting inflammation and tissue damage. While extensively studied experimentally, these alleles lack comprehensive in silico analysis. To explore peptide-HLA preferences, we used molecular docking on peptide libraries, deriving quantitative matrices (QMs) for evaluating amino acids at nine-residue peptide binding cores. Our findings tie specific residue preferences to peptide backbone conformations. Validating QMs on known binders and non-binders showed strong predictive power (89-94% accuracy). These QMs excel in screening protein libraries, even whole proteomes, notably reducing time and costs for celiac disease risk assessment in novel proteins. This computational approach aligns with European Food Safety Authority guidance, promising efficient screening for potential celiac disease triggers.

Evaluation of Dietary Exposure to Certain Preservative Food Additives: A Pilot Study

Aim: This study aims to evaluate dietary exposure to some preservative food additives (benzoate, sorbate, nitrite, nitrate) in young adults and compare exposure levels with acceptable daily intake. &#x0D; Material and Method: A total of 48 individuals were included in this study. To determine the intake levels of preservative food additives, a semi-quantitative processed food frequency questionnaire was used. Daily additive intakes were compared with the acceptable daily intake (ADI) set by the European Food Safety Authority to evaluate whether there was a risk of exceeding the ADI. &#x0D; Results: Average daily intakes of benzoate, sorbate, nitrite, and nitrate were calculated as 0.13 ± 0.25 mg/kg, 0.86 ± 1.00 mg/kg, 0.02 ± 0.0.3 mg/kg and 0.007 ± 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. Increased energy intake from processed foods correlates with higher sorbate intake (r=0.538 p≤0.000). Sorbate intake exceeds ADI in 4.1% of individuals and nitrite intake in 8.3%. Dietary benzoate and nitrate intake were below the ADI in all participants.&#x0D; Conclusion: In this study, although the frequency of individuals exceeding the preservative additives intake was low, increasing the frequency and amount of consumption of ultra-processed foods increase the risk of exposure. To determine risks, each country needs more dietary additive exposure estimations.

Exploiting fall foliage by-products to optimize Tenebrio molitor nutraceutical value

Abstract Tenebrio molitor larvae (TML) are a novel smart food recently declared safe by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These edible insects are a complete source of digestible proteins, and their farming requires limited space and resources. With the purpose to increase the sustainability of their farming, different nursery wastes produced during fall foliage were used as feed supplements. Punica granatum (PL), Castanea sativa (CSL) and Robinia pseudoacacia fallen leaves (AL), and the leaves of two plants used in traditional medicine, Laurus nobilis (LL) and Mentha arvensis leaves (MAL), which are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins were added to the TML standard diet as sources of antioxidant compounds. The fortified diets were administered to TML for their entire life cycle, and mean weight and survival rate analysed every 15 days, without observing a negative impact. After 45 days, when pupation exceeded 50%, the experiment was interrupted. TML accumulated antioxidant compounds from leaves, important to prevent inflammation and oxidative stress. Accordingly, we observed an increment of the antioxidant and radical scavenging activities respect to the TML fed with the standard diet (STDSL). Differently from STDSL, total fat content remained constant during development, while the quality of fat ameliorated, with a beneficial reduction of SFAs and an improvement of nutritional indexes associated with cardiovascular disease prevention. In addition, we observed an important reduction in n6/n3 ratio and the accumulation of linolenic acid. Taken together, our results strongly support the use of nursery wastes to fortify TML and improve their nutraceutical value.

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals from beverage packaging materials and risk assessment for consumers

This study investigated the influence of beverage packaging materials on the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastic, glass, carton, aluminium, and tin canned non-alcoholic beverages. Results showed that 63 EDCs including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenols, parabens, benzophenone-type UV-filters, biocides, nitrophenols, and alkylphenols, were detected in 144/162 screened products. Detected ∑63EDC concentrations ranged from 1.3 to 19,600 ng/L. EDC concentrations were higher in beverages packaged in metal cans while lower or no levels were detected in glass, plastic, and carton packaged drinks. Bisphenol levels were higher on average in canned beverages compared to glass (p < 0.01) and plastic products (p < 0.05) produced by the same brand and manufacturer. Two structural isomers of bisphenol A (BPA) were identified in 19 beverages, constituting the first detection in foodstuffs. The calculated daily intake of detected EDCs showed that exposure to BPA from per capita beverage consumption of 364 mL/day are up to 2000-fold higher than the newly revised safety guideline for BPA recommended by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). Overall, these findings suggest that BPA exposure poses a potential health hazard for individuals who regularly consume non-alcoholic beverages packaged in aluminium or tin cans, particularly young children.

Metabolites in the regulatory risk assessment of pesticides in the EU.

A large majority of chemicals is converted into metabolites through xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes. Metabolites may present a spectrum of characteristics varying from similar to vastly different compared with the parent compound in terms of both toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. In the pesticide arena, the role of metabolism and metabolites is increasingly recognised as a significant factor particularly for the design and interpretation of mammalian toxicological studies and in the toxicity assessment of pesticide/metabolite-associated issues for hazard characterization and risk assessment purposes, including the role of metabolites as parts in various residues in ecotoxicological adversities. This is of particular relevance to pesticide metabolites that are unique to humans in comparison with metabolites found in in vitro or in vivo animal studies, but also to disproportionate metabolites (quantitative differences) between humans and mammalian species. Presence of unique or disproportionate metabolites may underlie potential toxicological concerns. This review aims to present the current state-of-the-art of comparative metabolism and metabolites in pesticide research for hazard and risk assessment, including One Health perspectives, and future research needs based on the experiences gained at the European Food Safety Authority.

Molybdenum - a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023.

Molybdenum is an essential element in the form of the molybdenum cofactor (Moco). In humans, Moco is required for four enzymes: xanthine oxidase (XO), aldehyde oxidase, sulfite oxidase (SO), and mitochondrial amidoxime-reducing component (mARC). The enzymes are involved in the oxidation of purines to uric acid, metabolism of aromatic aldehydes and heterocyclic compounds, and in the catabolism of sulfur amino acids. Molybdenum cofactor deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome due to a defective synthesis of Moco, resulting in a deficiency of all the molybdoenzymes. There are no reports on clinical signs of dietary molybdenum deficiency in otherwise healthy humans. Water-soluble molybdate is efficiently absorbed from the digestive tract. The body retention is regulated by urinary excretion. Plasma molybdenum reflects long-term intake and 24-h urinary excretion is related to recent intake. There are no biochemical markers of molybdenum status. Cereal products are the main contributors to molybdenum dietary intake, estimated to 100-170 μg/day in Nordic studies. Little data are available on molybdenum toxicity in humans. A tolerable upper intake level of molybdenum has been based on reproductive toxicity in rats, but the effects have not been reproduced in more recent studies. The U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM, present National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; NASEM) established a Recommended Dietary Allowance of 45 μg/day in adult men and women in 2001, based on a small study reporting urinary excretion in balance with intake at 22 μg/day. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considered in 2013 the evidence to be insufficient to derive an Average Requirement and a Population Reference Intake, but proposed an Adequate Intake of 65 μg/day for adults.

Dietary intake, nutritional adequacy and food sources of vitamins involved in the methionine-methylation cycle from Spanish children aged one to

Methionine-methylation cycle and the derived critical functions during infancy are key regulated by folates, vitamins B12, and B6. At present in Spain, there is an absence of studies that assess the intakes and dietary sources of total folates and B12 by children consuming all types of milks and those regularly consuming adapted milk formulas. Thus, our aim was to evaluate folates intakes alongside with vitamins B6 and B12 while describing their major dietary contributors in Spanish children aged one to <10 years. A total of 1,448 children aged between 1 and 10 years (49.7% girls and 50.3% boys) from the EsNuPI, a prospective cross-sectional study, were allocated into two cohorts: one Spanish Reference Cohort (SRS) of the general population (n = 707), and another including children consuming adapted milks called Adapted Milk Consumers Cohort (AMS) (n = 741) completed two 24 h dietary recalls used to estimate their nutrient intakes and to compare them to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Population Reference Intakes. The median intake of vitamin B6 was 1.35 (1.06-1.70) mg/day in the SRS and 1.45 (1.17-1.79) mg/day in the AMS, being significantly higher in the AMS for all age-groups. Prevalence of adequacy for vitamin B6 in the SRS and AMS was 97.7 and 98.7%, respectively. Total folates intakes in the AMS were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.001) in all age groups than in the SRS, independently of age. In addition, the prevalence of adequacy for folates intakes in all groups was more than 60%. Vitamin B12 intake increased with age independently of the type of milk consumed. The prevalence of adequacy for vitamin B12 was highly compliant by all population groups. The major contributors to vitamin B6 were milk and dairy products being significantly higher in AMS than SRS (p ≤ 0.001). The highest contributors to folates intakes were milk and dairy products, cereals, vegetables, and fruits in both groups whereas for vitamin B12 in the SRS sample were milk and dairy products followed by meat and meats products and for adapted milks, were milk and dairy products, followed by eggs, then meat and meats products. A satisfactory prevalence of adequacy for vitamins B6, and B12 amongst the Spanish children population was observed, which was not the case for folates, regardless of the dietary group evaluated. Nevertheless, a possible strategy to increase folate intake among the youngest children is to increase the consumption of milk and dairy products within a healthier dietary pattern, as these may contribute significantly to the vitamin needs of the infant population.

Risk assessment of nutrients: There must be a threshold for their effects

Nutrients serve physiological functions in a dose-dependent manner and that needs to be recognized in risk assessment. An example of the consequences of not properly considering this can be seen in a recent assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA concluded in 2022 that the intake of added and free sugars should be “as low as possible in the context of a nutritionally adequate diet”. That conclusion of EFSA is based on the effects on two surrogate endpoints for an adverse effect found in randomized controlled trials with high sugars intake levels: fasting glucose and fasting triglycerides. The lowest intake levels in these trials were around 10 energy% and at this intake level there were no adverse effects on the two outcomes. This indicates that the adverse effects of sugars have an observable threshold value for these two endpoints. The most appropriate interpretation from the vast amount of data is that currently no definitive conclusion can be drawn on the tolerable upper intake level for dietary sugars. Therefore, EFSA's own guidance would lead to the conclusion that the available data do not allow the setting of an upper limit for added sugars and hence, that more robust data are required to identify the threshold value for intake of sugars.

Influence of UV light, ultrasound, and heat treatment on the migration of bisphenol A from polyethylene terephthalate bottle into the food simulant

This research examined the impacts of ultrasound, UV light, storage time, and temperature on the leaching of bisphenol A (BPA) from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking water bottles in Turkey. The initial phase of the investigation encompassed the quantification of BPA in two distinct brands of bottled water. Samples were extracted by solid- phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC‐FLD). According to the results in the first part, the highest BPA levels were found in bottled water. In the second part of the study, 10 to 30 min of ultrasound treatment increased the BPA migration with increased time in simulants. In the first and second weeks of storage at 25 °C, the effect of storage on BPA migration was below the detection limit (<LOD) in simulants. However, at 35 °C and 45 °C, BPA concentration increased with increased temperature. According to these results, increasing the storage temperature to 35 °C and 45 °C increased the BPA pass faster than the increase in storage time. When simulants in PET bottles were exposed to UV light for 1 and 6 h, BPA transitions higher from 6 to 1 h was found in simulants. Except for first-brand water samples, the passing of bisphenol A was found to comply with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) criteria in this study.

Olive Oil Polyphenols Improve HDL Cholesterol and Promote Maintenance of Lipid Metabolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

In 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) accorded a health claim to olive oil polyphenols in that they protected LDL particles from oxidative damage. However, limited scientific evidence has so far failed to confer any claim of function on the maintenance of normal lipid metabolism. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of human RCTs, evaluating the effect of olive oil polyphenol administration on lipid profiles. Previous literature was acquired from six electronic databases until June 2023. A total of 75 articles were retrieved and screened for inclusion criteria, which resulted in the selection of 10 RCTs that evaluated the effect of daily exposure to olive oil polyphenols on serum lipids in adults. Meta-analyses were built by tertiles of outcomes, as follows: low (0-68 mg/kg), medium (68-320 mg/kg), and high (320-600 mg/kg) polyphenols for HDL and LDL cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C, respectively), and low (0-59.3 mg/kg), medium (59.3-268 mg/kg), and high (268-600 mg/kg) polyphenols for total cholesterol (TC). The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration code: CRD42023403383). The study design was predominantly cross-over (n = 8 of 10) but also included parallel (n = 2 of 10). The study population was predominantly European and healthy. Daily consumption of olive oil polyphenols did not affect TC levels and only slightly significantly reduced LDL-C, with WMD statistically significant only for high daily consumption of olive oil polyphenols (WMD -4.28, 95%CI -5.78 to -2.77). Instead, our data found a statistically significant HDL-C enhancing effect (WMD pooled effect model: 1.13, 95%CI 0.45; 1.80, heterogeneity 38%, p = 0.04) with WMD by daily exposure level showing a statistically significant improvement effect for low (WMD 0.66, 95%CI 0.10-1.23), medium (WMD 1.36, 95%CI 0.76-1.95), and high (WMD 1.13, 95%CI 0.45-1.80) olive oil polyphenol consumptions. Olive oil polyphenols contribute toward maintaining lipid metabolism. Thus, food labeling regulations should stress this health feature of olive oil, whereby a declaration of the olive oil polyphenol content should be added to products on the market. Consumers need to be aware of the quality and possible health effects of any products they consume, and enforcement of nutrition labels offers the best way of providing this information.

Chromium – a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023

Trivalent chromium (CrIII) is the principal form of chromium found in diet and supplements. CrIII has been claimed to be involved in the regulation of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. Hexavalent chromium (CrVI) is a carcinogen when inhaled, which is uncommon, and occurs mainly by occupational exposures. There is a concern about adverse health effects also from exposure to CrVI by contaminated drinking water, although data from human studies are limited. Chromium had no recommendation in the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) 2012 and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) did not set any reference values either. Methods for evaluating chromium status are lacking, and there is still uncertainty about how chromium deficiency in humans manifests itself. The essentiality of chromium is also disputed. This scoping review revealed new research activity relating to high-dose chromium supplements and several health outcomes (overweight, obesity, and diabetes). Although these issues are related to health concerns in the Nordic or Baltic countries, the relevance for the NNR is modest, since such a high intake of chromium cannot be achieved by diet. Thus, no strong evidence was identified in the scientific literature that justifies a recommendation for chromium intake.

Risk Assessment of Isoeugenol in Food Based on Benchmark Dose-Response Modeling.

Isoeugenol has recently been evaluated as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) by the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In light of this evaluation, an updated risk assessment of this common food constituent was conducted using the benchmark dose (BMD) approach as recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for point of departure (POD) determination, as an alternative to the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). This approach was specifically chosen, as for the relevant neoplastic endpoints only lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) values are available. The toxicological endpoint from the animal studies with the most conservative BMD lower confidence limit (BMDL) value was identified. Using the obtained BMDL value of 8 mg/kg body weight/day as POD, an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 16 µg/kg body weight/day was obtained, which-despite being more conservative than previous approaches-is still clearly above the estimated daily exposure level to isoeugenol in the USA and in Europe. These results confirm a low risk of the estimated daily exposure levels of isoeugenol.