No health risk from traces of nicotine in chicken eggs

Nicotine is a strong toxin and the main alkaloid of the tobacco plant. This substance is found in tobacco smoke and is used as a medicinal component in nicotine gum and nicotine patches to help people give up smoking. Low levels of nicotine occur naturally in nightshade plants like potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines but also in other plants like cauliflower. Nico-tine can be produced synthetically, too. In conjunction with nicotine traces in chicken eggs, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has assessed the potential health risk to consumers from the consumption of eggs contaminated with nicotine. As the Institute does not have any concrete figures on nicotine levels in eggs, various exposure scenarios were calculated. BfR compared the estimated exposure to nicotine intake from foods like potatoes, which are consumed regularly, and passive smoking. The result: the temporary consumption of eggs with nicotine levels in the range of 3 to 300 μg nicotine per kilogram whole egg does not constitute a health risk for consumers. In principle, however, eggs may not contain any nicotine

Joint development of a new Greenhouse Agricultural Operator Exposure Model for hand-held application

A new greenhouse model for operator exposure has been developed for the purpose of risk assessment of plant protection products in the EU. It is based on exposure data from the Southern European Greenhouse project that were statistically reanalysed and modelled according to procedures already established for the outdoor AOEM project. The model is suitable for operator exposure during mixing/loading and spraying in low crops or high crops using hand-held equipment with stationary mix tanks. Based on a statistical analysis of the data a joint approach was chosen for the tank mixing/loading: data from the outdoor AOEM and the greenhouse database were combined resulting in a tank mixing/loading model valid for outdoor and greenhouse uses. For the application task in low crops and high crops a normal scenario and a dense scenario (frequent contact with treated crop) are available. Exposure mitigation for the use of work wear, gloves and impermeable clothing (for dense application scenario only) is integrated in the model and can be selected for a stepwise risk assessment. Assuming that conditions and practices are similar across Europe the new greenhouse model can be applied by all MS as a harmonised approach for the evaluation and the authorisation of plant protection products

BfR recommends provisional daily upper intake level and a guidance value for morphine in poppy seeds

Poppy seeds are the mature seeds of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). Because of their content of fatty oil and protein, they are used in the food sector in the manufacturing of bakery products and edible oil. Opium and its alkaloids can be obtained from the same plants from whose capsules the seeds are harvested. Opium is the name given to the dried milky sap which is obtained from the immature capsules. The most well known and most important opium alkaloid is morphine. Poppy seeds may also contain traces of alkaloids. In April 2005 BfR issued a warning about damage to health from poppy seeds in a press release. A mother had used an old home remedy and given her six-week-old baby strained milk from poppy seed to treat its sleep problems. The child was rushed to hospital with respiratory disorders and impaired consciousness and treated there on suspicion of opiate intoxication. High levels of the alkaloids, morphine and codeine, were detected in its urine. In this context BfR pointed out that poppy seeds may contain varying amounts of morphine and codeine because of fluctuations in quality. Against this backdrop and following reports of the misuse of edible poppy seeds to produce drugs, BfR undertook a risk assessment of the occurrence of morphine in edible poppy seeds and issued an expert opinion on possible health risks for consumers. It is clear that highly contaminated poppy seed batches are dangerous and not marketable. When, however, is the consumption of poppy seeds with lower morphine concentrations problematic in terms of health from the precautionary angle? In order to give official food control authorities an instrument to answer this question, BfR has established a "provisional daily upper intake level" for morphine. It is 6.3 microgram morphine per kilogram body weight per day. It indicates the morphine intake which should not be exceeded during

Initial evaluation of the assessment of levels of glycidol fatty acid esters de-tected in refined vegetable fats

The Chemical and Veterinary Test Agency (CVUA) Stuttgart has detected glycidol fatty acid esters in refined vegetable fats on a palm oil base. The analytical methods currently available do not, however, permit the determination, merely the estimation of the exact levels. Fur-thermore, we do not know what levels of glycidol are released from the glycidol fatty acid esters during digestion in humans. Based on findings from animal experiments, glycidol is classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. Because of this major hazard potential and because refined edible fats are used in products like margarine and in infant formula, too, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) takes the findings of CVUA Stuttgart seriously and presents its initial evaluation of the as-sessment whether the detected ester-bound glycidol could constitute a threat to health. This evaluation is based on the worst case scenario that glycidol is released fully during digestion from the fatty acid esters and is then available in the organism. As the exact levels of glycidol fatty acid esters could not be reliably determined up to now in vegetable fats, BfR adopts the hypothetical assumption that one kilogram of edible fat contains one milligram glycidol. Based on this calculation, BfR comes to the conclusion that infants who are fed exclusively industrially prepared infant milk formula would take in harmful levels of glycidol

Melons - Health Hazard through Contamination with Pathogenic Bacteria

Melons can come into contact with bacteria, viruses or parasites at any stage of the food supply chain from production and transport to preparation in private households. Pathogens can be transferred from the skin to the flesh of the fruit when the melons are cut. At warm temperatures, in particular salmonella, listeria and EHEC can easily multiply on the flesh which is low in acidity. Accordingly, outbreaks of illness have in the past been triggered by the consumption of melons contaminated with these pathogens. In order to avoid illness, the rules of personal and kitchen hygiene should be strictly adhered to during the preparation of melons. For example, it is important to ensure sufficiently large and clean working areas, clean hands and to use thoroughly cleaned knives and chopping boards. These rules of hygiene are all the more important in view of the fact that a small infection dose suffices to cause an infection from pathogens such as campylobacter, EHEC and norovirus. In addition, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommends to food retail stores, catering businesses and community institutions only to cut up small quantities of melons which can be sold to customers within about two hours. Consumers should eat cut up melons quickly or, alternatively, refrigerate them as soon as possible. Pieces of melons which have been kept unrefrigerated for several hours or exposed to high temperatures (e.g. through sunlight), should, as a precaution, be disposed of. To protect themselves against infections, especially sensitive persons should, to be on the safe side, refrain from eating cut melons which have been stored at room temperatures for several hours. Risk groups include pregnant women, small children as well as elderly and sick persons. These groups should think carefully before eating cut-up melons, if they do not know whether the fruit has been kept unrefrigerated for lengthy periods of time

Isolated isoflavones are not without risk

Soy and red clover contain isoflavones. These bioactive plant substances are also called phyto-estrogens because their chemical structure is similar to that of the human hormone, estrogen. They can, therefore, also have a hormone-like effect. In Germany for some time now food supplements with isolated isoflavones have been available on the market as an alternative to the pre-scribed hormone replacement therapy for menopausal complaints. The products are claimed to be efficacious natural products without any side effects. Against this backdrop, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has undertaken a health assessment of isoflavone-containing food supplements. To this end BfR evaluated a number of scientific studies. It revealed that, according to the latest scientific knowledge available, the assumed positive effects of isolated isoflavones on menopausal complaints have not been sufficiently substantiated. The adverse effects reported to BfR like nausea, constipation, swelling or reddening are possibly caused by allergic reactions to the soy protein contained in these products or to other factors. BfR is of the opinion that the toxicological risks regarding the hormonal situation of female users are to be viewed more critically than these short-term, acute adverse effects

Deep groundwater with sodium chloride levels of more than 25 g per litre is not suitable as a food

Depending on the origin of the water, the sodium levels in mineral water may vary consid-erably. The range extends from 0.5 mg (0.0005 g) up to 3.4 g sodium per litre. Mineral water with a sodium content of more than 0.2 g/l must carry the wording "contains sodium". In order to claim that a mineral water is suitable for a "low sodium diet", its sodium content must be lower than 0.02 g/l. Roughly 98 % of the salt used for cooking purposes in the home is sodium chloride. A high cooking salt intake is under discussion as a risk factor for the onset of high blood pressure. The consequences of this may be cardiac, cardiovascular and renal disease. The German Nutrition Society (DGE), therefore, recommends that adults restrict their average daily salt intake to 6 g. Besides processed foods like cheese, sausage, bread or ready meals, which sometimes have very high salt levels, mineral waters may also make a major contribution to daily salt intake. Consumers who wish to follow a diet with a low content of cooking salt should, therefore, pay attention to the labelling on mineral water. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has undertaken a health assessment of deep groundwater with a very high sodium chloride content of at least 25 g per litre from the angle of its possible use as a mineral water. Adults who consume one glass of the water would already reach the maximum tolerable daily intake of cooking salt recommended by DGE. In the opinion of BfR water with such a high salt content is not safe and is not, there-fore, suitable as a food

Sprouts and germ buds as possible cause for the EHEC infections - BfR supports Lower Saxony at the clarification

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Land Lower Saxony announced yesterday (Sunday) that sprout products from a horticultural farm in the district of Uelzen is under the suspicion of having spread EHEC germs. The Ministry recommends refraining from the consumption of sprouts for the time being. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) advise and support the authorities in charge of food monitoring in the Laender in their current out-break investigations. The National Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli of BfR, which cooperates closely with the authorities in Lower Saxony, will examine the samples of the sprouts with a new validated method. A definitive detection of the EHEC O104:H4 pathogen on the sprouts, which is the cause for the current outbreak, is not yet available. Against the backdrop of the severe outbreak in May 2011, BfR and RKI continue to recom-mend, by way of precaution, not to consume non-heated types of vegetables which are sus-pected of being the cause of the infection (tomatoes, cucumbers and salads) and have been purchased in Northern Germany, until the identification of the precise cause of the outbreak. Already low germ counts are sufficient for an infection, so that a transmission is very easily possible. BfR supports all measures which contribute to a rapid clarification of the current EHEC infection outbreak

Residues of veterinary medicinal products in foods of plant origin

In Germany and Europe veterinary medicinal products are subject to strict regulatory requirements. As part of the authorisation procedure, active substances are investigated in regard to their effects on humans, animals and the environment. The acceptable daily intake (ADI) for humans of each active substance is derived on the basis of scientific studies. The ADI serves to determine maximum residue levels (MRL) for foodstuff of animal origin (meat, kidney, fat, milk, eggs and honey). The MRL are determined so that the daily intake of veterinary medicinal product residues up to these levels is not expected to endanger the health of the consumer. In light of the discovery that plants are able to take up veterinary medicinal product residues from soil, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) carried out an expert panel in December 2009. The aim of the panel was to reveal the current state of scientific knowledge on the potential carry-over of veterinary medicinal product residues in foods of plant origin and its effects. It was determined that results from model experiments and modelling have provided initial indications for the behaviour of some active substances and their metabolites (transformation products) in slurry, in soil and in the plant. Yet current data do not allow a reliable estimate for the extent of intake of veterinary medicinal product residues through foods of plant origin. Overall experts agree, however, that based on the present data on antibiotics residues (e.g. sulfonamides, tetracyclines and fluorochinoloni) in foods of plant origin no risk is expected for consumers from a toxicological perspective. Furthermore it was determined that the question of the spread and development of resistance under the influence of individual or several antibiotics at low concentrations and over prolonged periods of time has not been investigated sufficiently

Salmonella control programme in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 2160-2003 2012 results

Since 2008, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has assessed data on the prevalence of salmonella in flocks of breeding poultry, laying hens, broilers and turkeys. Published each year, the reports are part of an EU-wide programme to control salmonella. They are based on results from official surveillance by the federal states as well as own checks conducted by the food business operators themselves. Compared to the previous year, data for 2012 showed a similar or slightly decreased Salmonella prevalence for laying hens, broilers and breeding turkeys but an increase in the detected rates for breeding hens and fattening turkeys. In terms of the control-relevant serovars, the agreed target value was reached for all types of poultry covered by the control programmes. The full version of this BfR Information is available in German on http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/salmonella-bekaempfungsprogramm-gemaess-verordnungeg- nr-2160-2003-ergebnisse-fuer-2012.pd