European Food Safety Authority Report Research Articles

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and the Need for a Meaningful Regulatory Plant Protection Product Testing Strategy.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) perform key soil ecosystem services and, because of their symbiotic relationship with plant roots, may be exposed to the plant protection products (PPPs) applied to soils and crops. In 2017, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a scientific opinion addressing the state of the science on risk assessment of PPPs for in‐soil organisms, recommending the inclusion of AMF ecotoxicological testing in the PPP regulatory process. However, it is not clear how this can be implemented in a tiered, robust, and ecologically relevant manner. Through a critical review of current literature, we examine the recommendations made within the EFSA report and the methodologies available to integrate AMF into the PPP risk assessment and provide perspective and commentary on their agronomic and ecological relevance. We conclude that considerable research questions remain to be addressed prior to the inclusion of AMF into the in‐soil organism risk assessment, many of which stem from the unique challenges associated with including an obligate symbiont within the PPP risk assessment. Finally, we highlight critical knowledge gaps and the further research required to enable development of relevant, reliable, and robust scientific tests alongside pragmatic and scientifically sound guidance to ensure that any future risk‐assessment paradigm is adequately protective of the ecosystem services it aims to preserve. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1808–1823. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Assessment of Dietary Intake of Manganese in Relation to Tolerable Upper Intake Level

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), evaluated the intake of manganese from the diet and 1, 5 or 10 mg manganese per day in food supplements. The former maximum limit for manganese in food supplements was 5 mg per daily dose. 
 Manganese (Mn) is an essential dietary mineral for mammals, and is a component of metalloenzymes such as superoxide dismutase, arginase and pyruvate carboxylase. Manganese is involved in amino acid-, lipid- and carbohydrate metabolism and in proteoglycan synthesis in bone formation. In 2013, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggested 3 mg/day to represent an adequate intake (AI) of manganese because data was considered insufficient to set an average requirement (AR).
 Reports of adverse effects resulting from manganese exposure in humans are associated primarily with inhalation in occupational settings. Excess oral exposure to manganese, especially from contaminated water sources, has been shown to cause permanent neurological disorder known as “manganism” which can be irreversible. The amount of manganese absorbed is inversely related to the concentration of manganese in the diet. This regulation seems to be part of the adaptive changes to the amount of dietary manganese intake, which allow the maintenance of manganese homeostasis over a wide range of intakes. Manganese is mainly absorbed as Mn(II), and absorption is reported to be below 10% of ingested manganese.
 The main route of elimination of manganese from the body is via bile to the small intestine, while very little is excreted in the urine. Half-life for manganese can vary from 13 to 37 days, with a longer half-life in women than in men, but large inter-individual variation exists. 
 In Norway, manganese content in drinking water is low, and does not contribute to any magnitude of manganese intake. Daily dietary intake of manganese in Norway is not known, but it is proposed that manganese intake is adequate in the Scandinavian countries (NNR Project Group, 2012). Results from the Swedish Market Basket study, 2015, indicate an average daily manganese intake of 4.2 mg per person and day. Calculations based on data from Denmark, 2013 and 2015, evaluate mean dietary intake of manganese to 3.9 mg/day for adults and up to 6.9 mg/day in the higher intake groups. EFSA report on an observed mean intake in EU around 3 mg/day for adults. Main contributor to dietary manganese intake is cereals (57%) followed by fruit, vegetables, nuts and coffee/tea. 
 Irreversible neurotoxic adverse effects from intakes of manganese close to adequate intakes have been reported in humans (SCF, 2000). The Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) could not set a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL), because no relevant dose-response animal studies were found. Consequently SCF did not set a tolerable upper intake level (UL) for manganese. 
 VKM considers that any dose of manganese as an ingredient in food supplements may be associated with increased risk of negative health effects. 
 VKM emphasises that the current assessment of maximum limits for manganese in food supplements is merely based on published reports concerning upper levels from the IOM (2001, USA), SCF (2003, EU), EVM (2003, UK) and NNR (2012, Nordic countries). VKM has not conducted any systematic review of the literature for the current opinion, as this was outside the scope of the terms of reference from NFSA.

Bisphenol A (BPA) hazard assessment protocol

Bisphenol A (BPA) hazard assessment protocol

Report for 2015 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products

EFSA Supporting PublicationsVolume 14, Issue 11 1150E Technical reportOpen Access Report for 2015 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products European Food Safety Authority, European Food Safety AuthoritySearch for more papers by this author European Food Safety Authority, European Food Safety AuthoritySearch for more papers by this author First published: 30 November 2017 https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.EN-1150Citations: 5 Requestor: European Commission Question number: EFSA-Q-2016-00213 AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References Clouet AS, Le Bizec B, Montrade MP, Monteau F and André F, 1997. Identification of endogenous 19-nortestosterone in pregnant ewes by Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.Analyst, 122, 471– 474. EC (European Commission), 2007. European Commission Staff Working Document on the implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2007. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/residues/workdoc_2007_en.pdf EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2010. Report for 2008 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in food of animal origin in the Member States. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(4):1559, 55 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1559 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2011a. Evaluation of the data collection performed in the framework of Directive 96/23/EC. EFSA Supporting Publication 2011; 8(1):EN-103, 20 pp. doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2011.EN-103 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2011b. Report for 2009 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA Supporting Publication 2011; 8(5):158, 70 pp. doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2011.EN-158 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2012. Technical report of EFSA: Report for 2010 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA Supporting publication 2012; 9(3):212, 65 pp. doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2012.EN-212 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2013. Report for 2011 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA Supporting publication 2013; 10(4):EN-363, 65 pp. doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2013.EN-363 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2014. Report for 2012 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA Supporting publication 2014; 11(6):EN-540, 65 pp. doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2014.EN-540 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2015. Report for 2013 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA Supporting publication 2015; 12(11):EN-723, 69 pp. doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2015.EN-723 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2016. Report for 2014 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA Supporting publications 2016; 13(5):EN-923, 70 pp. doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2016.EN-923 Fidani M, Pompa G, Mungiguerra F, Casati A, Fracchiolla ML and Arioli F, 2012. Investigation of the presence of endogenous prednisolone in equine urine by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 26, 879– 886. Pinel G, Mathieu S, Cesbron N, Maume D, De Brabander HF, André F and Le Bizec B, 2006. Evidence that urinary excretion of thiouracil in adult bovine submitted to a cruciferous diet can give erroneous indications of the possible illegal use of thyrostats in meat production. Food Additives and Contaminants, 23, 974– 980. Pompa G, Arioli F, Casati A, Fidani M, Bertocchi L and Dusi G, 2011. Investigation of the origin of prednisolone in cow urine. Steroids, 76, 104– 110. Samuels TP, Nedderman A, Seymour MA and Houghton E, 1998. Study of the metabolism of testosterone, nandrolone and estradiol in cattle. Analyst, 123, 2401– 2404. Van der Fel-Klerx HJ, Liu C and Battilani P, 2016. Modelling climate changes impacts on mycotoxin contamination. World Mycotoxin Journal, 9, 717– 726. Citing Literature Volume14, Issue11November 20171150E ReferencesRelatedInformation

Bacteriophages to combat foodborne infections caused by food contamination by bacteria of the Campylobacter genus

It is estimated that each year more than 2 million people suffer from diarrheal diseases, resulting from the consumption of contaminated meat. Foodborne infections are most frequently caused by small Gram-negative rods Campylobacter. The hosts of these bacteria are mainly birds wherein they are part of the normal intestinal flora. During the commercial slaughter, there is a likelihood of contamination of carcasses by the bacteria found in the intestinal content. In Europe, up to 90% of poultry flocks can be a reservoir of the pathogen. According to the European Food Safety Authority report from 2015, the number of reported and confirmed cases of human campylobacteriosis exceeds 200 thousands per year, and such trend remains at constant level for several years. The occurrence of growing antibiotic resistance in bacteria forces the limitation of antibiotic use in the animal production. Therefore, the European Union allows only using stringent preventive and hygienic treatment on farms. Achieving Campylobacter free chickens using these methods is possible, but difficult to implement and expensive. Utilization of bacterial viruses - bacteriophages, can be a path to provide the hygienic conditions of poultry production and food processing. Formulations applied in the food protection should contain strictly lytic bacteriophages, be non-pyrogenic and retain long lasting biological activity. Currently, on the market there are available commercial bacteriophage preparations for agricultural use, but neither includes phages against Campylobacter. However, papers on the application of bacteriophages against Campylobacter in chickens and poultry products were published in the last few years. In accordance with the estimates, 2-logarithm reduction of Campylobacter in poultry carcases will contribute to the 30-fold reduction in the incidence of campylobacteriosis in humans. Research on bacteriophages against Campylobacter have cognitive and economic importance. The paper presents current state of research on bacteriophages targeted against Campylobacter.

Annual report of the Emerging Risks Exchange Network 2015

Annual report of the Emerging Risks Exchange Network 2015

A quantitative UHPLC-MS/MS method for citrinin and ochratoxin A detection in food, feed and red yeast rice food supplements

Mycotoxins may cause deleterious effects (among others nephrogenic, hepatogenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, neurogenic) in animals and humans, therefore they have been intensely studied and monitored over the years. For citrinin (CIT), a nephrotoxic mycotoxin, however, this has not yet been the case. According to the latest European Food Safety Authority report, a correct risk assessment of CIT was not possible due to the lack of occurrence data. Besides, traces of CIT or its metabolite, dehydrocitrinone are widely (in up to 90% of samples) present in human urine according to recent Belgian and German scientific reports, which might imply chronic exposure. Only recently, a European maximum limit has been set for CIT in cholesterol reducing food supplements including red yeast fermented rice (RYR). During production of RYR through fungal (among othersMonascus purpureus) fermentation of rice other components, like CIT, as well as nephrotoxic ochratoxin A (OTA) may form. Consequently, the present work attempted develop to a robust and routinely applicable ultra-high performance liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the analysis of CIT and OTA in food, feed and in RYR food supplements. The method was successfully validated based on EU/657/2002 and EU/519/2014 in RYR food supplements and wheat flour, achieving respective limits of quantification (LOQ) for CIT of 0.4 μg/kg and 0.1 μg/kg and for OTA of 15 μg/kg and 0.4 μg/kg. The average between-day recoveries varied from 72 to 110% with relative standard deviations ≤16%. Single-day validation in rice, curry and apple matrices showed LOQs ranging from 0.3-1.0 μg/kg. Next, the occurrence of CIT/OTA was surveyed in 138 RYR, food and feed samples, proving the potential of this method for future data acquisition within a risk assessment framework specifically for CIT, while also gaining information about the (co-)occurrence of OTA in edible matrices.

Report for 2014 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products

EFSA Supporting PublicationsVolume 13, Issue 5 923E Technical reportOpen Access Report for 2014 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)Search for more papers by this author European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)Search for more papers by this author First published: 25 May 2016 https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2016.EN-923Citations: 6 Published date: 25 May 2016 Question number: EFSA-Q-2015-00031 AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References Clouet AS, Le Bizec B, Montrade MP, Monteau F and André F, 1997. Identification of endogenous 19-nortestosterone in pregnant ewes by Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Analyst, 122, 471474. EC (European Commission), 2007. European Commission Staff Working Document on the implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2007. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/residues/workdoc_2007_en.pdf EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2010a. Report for 2008 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in food of animal origin in the Member States. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(4):1559, 55 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1559 EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2010b. Technical report of EFSA: Evaluation of the data collection performed in the framework of Directive 96/23/EC. 20 pp. Available online: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/doc/103e.pdf EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2011. Technical report of EFSA: Report for 2009 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. Supporting Publications 2011: 158, 70 pp. Available online: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/doc/158e.pdf EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2012. Technical report of EFSA: Report for 2010 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. Supporting Publications 2012: 212, 65 pp. Available online: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/search/doc/212e.pdf EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2013. Technical report of EFSA: Report for 2011 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA supporting publications 2013: EN-363, 65 pp. Available online: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/doc/363e.pdf EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2014. Technical report of EFSA: Report for 2012 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA supporting publications 2014: EN-540, 65 pp. Available online: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/540e.htm EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2015. Technical report of EFSA: Report for 2013 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. EFSA supporting publications 2015: EN-723, 69 pp. Available online: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/723e.htm Fidani M, Pompa G, Mungiguerra F, Casati A, Fracchiolla ML and Arioli F, 2012. Investigation of the presence of endogenous prednisolone in equine urine by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 26, 879– 886. Pinel G, Mathieu S, Cesbron N, Maume D, De Brabander HF, André F and Le Bizec B, 2006. Evidence that urinary excretion of thiouracil in adult bovine submitted to a cruciferous diet can give erroneous indications of the possible illegal use of thyrostats in meat production. Food Additives and Contaminants, 23, 974– 980. Pompa G, Arioli F, Casati A, Fidani M, Bertocchi L and Dusi G, 2011. Investigation of the origin of prednisolone in cow urine. Steroids, 76, 104– 110. Samuels TP, Nedderman A, Seymour MA and Houghton E, 1998. Study of the metabolism of testosterone, nandrolone and estradiol in cattle. Analyst, 123, 2401– 2404. Citing Literature Volume13, Issue5May 2016923E This article also appears in:Chemical residues data ReferencesRelatedInformation

The European Food Safety Authority recommendation for polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of infant formula overrules breast milk, puts infants at risk, and should be revised

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded from a limited review of the literature that although docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is required for infant formula, arachidonic acid is not required “even in the presence of DHA” (EFSA Journal, 12 (2014) 3760). This flawed opinion is grounded in human trials which tested functionality of DHA in neural outcomes and included arachidonic acid ostensibly to support growth. The EFSA report mistakes a nutrient ubiquitous in the diets of newborn infants, through breast milk and with wide-ranging health and neurodevelopmental effects, for an optional drug targeted to a particular outcome that is properly excluded when no benefit is found for that particular outcome. Arachidonic acid has very different biological functions compared to DHA, for example, arachidonic acid has unique functions in the vasculature and in specific aspects of immunity. Indeed, the overwhelming majority of trials include both DHA and arachidonic acid, and test development specific to DHA such as neural and visual development. DHA suppresses membrane arachidonic acid concentrations and its function. An infant formula with DHA and no arachidonic acid runs the risk of cardio and cerebrovascular morbidity and even mortality through suppression of the favorable oxylipin derivatives of arachidonic acid. The EFSA recommendation overruling breast milk composition should be revised forthwith, otherwise being unsafe, ungrounded in most of the evidence, and risking lifelong disability.

The EFSA Data Warehouse access rules

EFSA Supporting PublicationsVolume 12, Issue 2 768E Technical reportOpen Access The EFSA Data Warehouse access rules European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)Search for more papers by this author European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)Search for more papers by this author First published: 27 February 2015 https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2015.EN-768Citations: 2 Published date: 27 February 2015 Question number: EFSA-Q-2012-00637 AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2010a. EFSA Report on Data Collection: Future Directions. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(5):1533, 35 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1533. EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2010b. Standard sample description for food and feed. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(1):1457, 54 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1457. EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2011. Use of the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database in Exposure Assessment. EFSA Journal 2011; 9(3):2097, 34 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2097. Citing Literature Volume12, Issue2February 2015768E ReferencesRelatedInformation

New European Food Safety Authority recommendation for infant formulae contradicts the physiology of human milk and infant development.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded from a limited review of the literature that although docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was required for infant formula, arachidonic acid was not 'even in the presence of DHA'. The EFSA report mistakes a nutrient ubiquitous in the diets of infants, and with wide-ranging effects, for an optional drug targeted to a particular outcome that is properly excluded when no benefit is found for that particular outcome. The EFSA's conclusion is not evidence-based. Its conclusions are grounded in trials which tested functionality of DHA, not arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid has very different biological functions, for instance, in the vasculature and in specific aspects of immunity. None of the trials cited tested any property specific to arachidonic acid. The test of time through natural selection and human evolution has resulted in milk composition in which arachidonic acid and its long-chain polyenoic family members are conserved and occupy a prominent position. As DHA suppresses arachidonic acid, an infant formula with DHA and no arachidonic acid runs the risk of cardio- and cerebrovascular morbidity through suppression of the favourable eicosanoid derivatives of arachidonic acid and cell structural integrity. The EFSA recommendation should be rejected forthwith as unsafe and risking lifelong disability.

Highlights in this issue

Fortification with folic acid has been demonstrated to be one of the most successful preventive medical programs resulting in a decrease between 25% and 45% of neural tube defects. It is mandatory in the American continent, Australia and many countries in Africa and the Middle East. However, most countries in Europe are exceptions. The reason is that there are some indications of an increased cancer risk. Neither the global World Cancer Research review nor EU’s European Food Safety Authority report presented data on increased cancer risk at physiological folate intake levels. Therefore, EU should act to implement folic acid fortification as NTD prophylaxis as soon as possible. See review by Margaretha Jägerstad (pp. 1007–1012). Scanning the brain, particularly with preterm infants, by ultrasound, NIRS, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic encephalography has become increasingly popular among neonatologists. It is certainly extremely important for scientific studies, but what about the benefit for the parents? In this issue, a couple with an extremely preterm infant was informed that the infant was severely brain damaged after an MRI. The child is now two and half years old and speaks both French and English, and has shown no signs of brain damage. The parents Rebecca Pearce and Jason Bardsnes report in this issue about their worries after being informed about the negative effects of the MRI scan (pp. 1013–1015). The different view is commented by Drs. Annie Janvier and Keith Barrington (pp. 1016–1017). We are nowadays obsessed by the impact factor. Articles published in high impact factor journals are believed to be truer than those published in journals with lower impact factor. Actually, it may be the other way around because the high impact journals like to publish new exciting results that will be broadcasted by CNN or BBC. Ronella Marrom et al. hypothesize that negative results in neonatology are less likely to be accepted in high impact journals. However, they were not able to confirm this hypothesis. Negative results are published in journals with similar impact factors as those with positive results, which is reassuring (pp. 1095–1097). Food allergy in adolescents is strongly associated with severe asthma. Yael Graif et al. compared Jewish and Arab adolescents in Israel and found that the Arab adolescents were more allergic to peanut, egg and sesame and less to milk compared with the Jewish adolescents. This may be due to Jewish infants being more exposed to peanuts while the Arab infants receive cow milk earlier. The authors point out that asthmatic teenagers with food allergy are at the greatest risk of food anaphylaxis (pp. 1083–1088). Hélène Chappuy et al. undertook a multicenter prospective study in 13 French-speaking paediatric emergency departments. They evaluated whether the parents understood four crucial points of information: the reasons for their child’s hospitalization, the diagnosis, the prognosis and treatment. They found that only 19% of the parents understood all the information provided by the doctor at the time of admission. The authors suggest that a nurse should re-explain the medical information and ensure that the child’s pain is dealt with before communicating information (pp. 1089–1094).

Folic acid fortification prevents neural tube defects and may also reduce cancer risks

The prevalence of neural tube defect (NTD)-affected pregnancies ranges between 0.4 and 2/1000 pregnancies in EU. NTDs result in severe malformations and sometimes miscarriages. Children born with NTD suffer for the rest of their life of disability and chronic healthcare issues, and many women therefore choose termination of pregnancy if NTD is diagnosed prenatally. Women planning for pregnancy are recommended to eat 400 μg folic acid/d, whereas average figures across Europe indicate intakes of ∼250 μg/d for women of fertile age, a gap that could be bridged by implementation of folic acid fortification. The results of mandatory folic acid fortifications introduced in USA and Canada are a decrease between 25 and 45% of NTD pregnancies. Evidence-based NTD prophylaxis is now practised in more than 60 countries worldwide. EU countries worry over possible cancer risks, but ignore a wealth of studies reporting decreasing cancer risks with folate intakes at recommended levels. Currently, there are indications of a U-shaped relationship, that is, higher cancer risks at low folate intakes (<150 μg/day) and highly elevated folate intakes (>1 mg/day), respectively. However neither the global World Cancer Research review nor EU's European Food Safety Authority report present data on increased cancer risk at physiological folate intake levels. Therefore, EU should act to implement folic acid fortification as NTD prophylaxis as soon as possible.

Experimental study: uptake of coccidiostats in vegetables

Experimental study: uptake of coccidiostats in vegetables

Report for 2010 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products

EFSA Supporting PublicationsVolume 9, Issue 3 212E Technical reportOpen Access Report for 2010 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)Search for more papers by this author European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)Search for more papers by this author First published: 20 March 2012 https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2012.EN-212Citations: 3 Published date: 20 March 2012 Question number: EFSA-Q-2011-00228 AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References Clouet AS, Le Bizec B, Montrade MP, Monteau F, Andre F, 1997. Identification of endogenous 19-nortestosterone in pregnant ewes by Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Analyst, 122, 471– 474. European Commission (EC), 2007. European Commission Staff Working Document on the implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2007. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/residues/workdoc_2007_en.pdf European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010a. Report for 2008 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in food of animal origin in the Member States. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(4):1559 [ 55 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1559. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010b. Technical report of EFSA: Evaluation of the data collection performed in the framework of Directive 96/23/EC. Available at http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/doc/103e.pdf European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2011. Technical report of EFSA: Report for 2009 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. Supporting Publications 2011:158. [ 70pp.]. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu Pinel G, Mathieu S, Cesbron N, Maume D, De Brabander HF, Andre F, Le Bizec B, 2006. Evidence that urinary excretion of thiouracil in adult bovine submitted to a cruciferous diet can give erroneous indications of the possible illegal use of thyrostats in meat production. Food Additives and Contaminants, 23, 974– 980. Samuels TP, Nedderman A, Seymour MA, Houghton E, 1998. Study of the metabolism of testosterone, nandrolone and estradiol in cattle. Analyst, 123, 2401– 2404. Citing Literature Volume9, Issue3March 2012212E This article also appears in:Chemical residues data ReferencesRelatedInformation

Evaluation of the data collection performed in the framework of Directive 96/23/EC

EFSA Supporting PublicationsVolume 8, Issue 1 103E Technical reportOpen Access Evaluation of the data collection performed in the framework of Directive 96/23/EC European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)Search for more papers by this author European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)Search for more papers by this author First published: 31 January 2011 https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2011.EN-103Citations: 1 Published date: 31 January 2011 Question number: EFSA-Q-2011-00053 AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References European Commission (EC), 2008. European Commission Staff Working Document on the implementation of National Residue Monitoring Plans in the Member States in 2008. Available from http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/residues/workdoc_2008_en.pdf. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010a. Standard sample description for food and feed. EFSA Journal 2010; 2010; 8(1): 1457 [54 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1457. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010b. Report for 2008 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in food of animal origin in the Member States. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(4):1559 [ 55 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1559. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010c. EFSA Report on Data Collection: Future Directions. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(5): 1533. [35 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1533. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010d. Guidance on data exchange. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(11): 1895 [50 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1895. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu. Citing Literature Volume8, Issue1January 2011103E ReferencesRelatedInformation

Evaluation of evidence for infection as a mode of action for induction of rat lymphoma

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a 2006 report questioning the relationship of aspartame exposure with increased incidence of lymphomas/leukemias in a European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF) rat study. The EFSA report suggested that the lymphoma/leukemia findings were most likely explained by infection in the rat colony. The ERF has also conducted the only available long-term oral study of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). Thus, using the EFSA report as support, some have now raised questions about the human relevance of MTBE-associated hemolymphoreticular tumors reported by the ERF in female rats as well as whether their incidence was elevated above background levels. In this report, we discuss the hypothesized mode of action (MOA) of infection-induced lymphoma and its relevance to MTBE-associated lymphomas. We address the relationship of rat strain and study duration to lymphoma susceptibility and review evidence of low background rates of this tumor in control animals at the ERF, similar survival rates for female rats at the ERF and National Toxicology Program (NTP), and chemical- and gender-specificity of tumor induction for this type of tumor in studies at the ERF. We find that the background incidence of hemolymphoreticular tumors in female rats in the MTBE study is consistent with contemporaneous studies at the ERF and that there is an exposure-related effect, which is unlikely to be due to infections. We examine more recent tumor classification schemes for lymphomas, which support the combination of lymphoblastic leukemias and lymphomas reported by Belpoggi et al. ([1995] Toxicol Ind Health 11:119-149; [1998] Eur J Oncol 3:201-206).

Aspartame Not Linked to Cancer

In an article published in the March 2006 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) Soffritti et al. (2006) of the European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences (ERF) reported that aspartame was associated with an increase in lymphomas and leukemias, transitional cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis and urether, malignant schwanomas of peripheral nerves, and hyperplasia of the olfactory epithelium.