Cross-contamination of oilseeds by insecticide residues during storage

Pesticide residues are found in oilseeds (rapeseed and sunflower) and crude oils: they are mainly organophosphate insecticides (pirimiphos-methyl, malathion) used in empty storage facilities and for application to stored cereal grains. Even if pests are found in stored oilseeds, French regulation does not allow use of these insecticides on stored oilseeds. These residues arise from cross-contamination from storage bins and facilities, and not from illegal use. This uptake of insecticide residues from their storage environment by oilseeds can lead to levels that exceed regulatory limits. A two-year investigation in grain storage companies allowed us to follow the course of 27 sunflower batches (storage season 2006-2007) and 21 rapeseed batches (storage season 2007-2008), from reception at the storage facilities to outloading. Samples from each of these batches, made at outloading, were analysed by ITERG, looking for insecticide residues. Traceability of oilseeds established by storers allowed us to identify crosscontamination sources. Substances discovered were mostly pirimiphos-methyl, and malathion, dihlorovos (in sunflower), plus chlorpyriphos-methyl and deltaméthrine (one case). Pirimiphos-methyl was most commonly detected, and caused most cases of non-accordance with regulatory levels in rapeseed. Main cross-contamination hazard resulted from treatment of cereals at their receipt during the same period of rapeseed receipt, especially when these cereals treatments were frequent on that elevator. For sunflower, main cross-contamination hazard resulted from treatment of cereals at outloading, just before sunflower seeds were outloaded, especially when these cereals treatments were frequent on that elevator. Other situations led to cross-contaminations, but generally of lower levels: oilseeds stored in bin that contained previously treated cereals, empty bins and handling equipment treated before receipt of oilseeds

Insecticide residues cross-contamination of oilseeds during storage

Pesticide residues are found in oilseeds and crude oils: they are mainly organophosphate insecticides (pirimiphos-methyl, dichlorvos, malathion) used in empty storage facilities and for application to stored cereal grains. Even if pests are found in stored oilseeds, French regulation does not permit use of these insecticides on stored oilseeds, as they have affinity for these lipophilic subtances. These residues arise from cross-contamination during mechanical contact with storage bins and grain handling equipment, and not from illegal use. This uptake of insecticide residues from their storage environment by oilseeds can lead to levels that exceed regulatory limits. An investigation of 11 grain storage companies allowed us to follow the course of 27 sunflower seeds batches, from reception at the storage facilities to outloading. Samples from each of these batches, made at outloading, were analysed content for insecticide residues. Traceability of sunflower seeds established by storers allowed us to identify the origine of observed cross-contamination cases. Substances discovered were dichlorvos, pirimiphos-methyl and malathion (and chlorpyriphos-methyl in a single case). Pirimiphos-methyl was most commonly detected, but most cases of non-accordance with regulatory levels were observed with dichlorvos and malathion. Main cross-contamination hazard resulted from treatment of cereals at outloading, just before sunflower seeds were outloaded, especially when these cereals treatments were frequent on that elevator. Other situations led to cross-contaminations, but generally of lower levels: outloading of sunflower seeds after outloading of cereal that was treated at the reception, several weeks or months before; sunflower seeds stored in bin that contained previously treated cereal; empty bins and handling equipment treated before receipt of sunflower seeds

Insecticide residues cross-contamination of oilseeds during storage

Pesticide residues are found in oilseeds and crude oils: they are mainly organophosphate insecticides (pirimiphos-methyl, dichlorvos, malathion) used in empty storage facilities and for application to stored cereal grains. Even if pests are found in stored oilseeds, French regulation does not permit use of these insecticides on stored oilseeds, as they have affinity for these lipophilic subtances. These residues arise from cross-contamination during mechanical contact with storage bins and grain handling equipment, and not from illegal use. This uptake of insecticide residues from their storage environment by oilseeds can lead to levels that exceed regulatory limits. An investigation of 11 grain storage companies allowed us to follow the course of 27 sunflower seeds batches, from reception at the storage facilities to outloading. Samples from each of these batches, made at outloading, were analysed content for insecticide residues. Traceability of sunflower seeds established by storers allowed us to identify the origine of observed cross-contamination cases. Substances discovered were dichlorvos, pirimiphos-methyl and malathion (and chlorpyriphos-methyl in a single case). Pirimiphos-methyl was most commonly detected, but most cases of non-accordance with regulatory levels were observed with dichlorvos and malathion. Main cross-contamination hazard resulted from treatment of cereals at outloading, just before sunflower seeds were outloaded, especially when these cereals treatments were frequent on that elevator. Other situations led to cross-contaminations, but generally of lower levels: outloading of sunflower seeds after outloading of cereal that was treated at the reception, several weeks or months before; sunflower seeds stored in bin that contained previously treated cereal; empty bins and handling equipment treated before receipt of sunflower seeds

Insecticide residues cross-contamination of oilseeds during storage (second part)

This article is a continuation of the article Insecticide residues cross-contamination of oilseeds during storage published in OCL vol. 14, n°6, November-December 2007. The last article presented the results obtained by an investigation on stored sunflower seeds, and this new work presents results on stored rapeseed. Pesticide residues are found in oilseeds and crude oils: they are mainly organophosphate insecticides (pirimiphos-methyl, malathion) used in empty storage facilities and for application to stored cereal grains. French regulation does not allow use of these insecticides on stored oilseeds. These residues arise from cross-contamination from storage bins and facilities, and not from illegal use. This uptake of insecticide residues from their storage environment by oilseeds can lead to levels that can exceed regulatory limits. An investigation in 13 grain storage companies allowed us to follow the course of 21 rapeseed batches, from their receipt at the storage facilities to outloading. Samples from each of these batches, made at outloading, were analysed by ITERG, looking for insecticide residues. Traceability of rapeseed established by storers allowed us to identify cross-contamination sources. Results are slightly different from those obtained the previous year on sunflower seeds. Substances discovered were mostly pirimiphos-methyl, and malathion, plus chlorpyriphos-methyl (two cases) and deltamethrin (one case). Pirimiphos-methyl was most commonly detected, and caused most cases of non-accordance with regulatory levels. Main cross-contamination hazard resulted from treatment of cereals at their receipt during the same period than rapeseed receipt, especially when these cereals treatments were frequent on that silo. Other situations led to cross-contaminations, but generally of lower levels: outloading of rapeseed after outloading of treated cereals, rapeseed stored in bin that contained previously treated cereals, empty bins and handling equipment treated before receipt of rapeseed

Les enseignements de 7 années de plan de surveillance des oléagineux

Oilseeds food chain operators are coordinated through a food safety survey plan, in order to get a realistic picture of the contamination in oilseed products (seeds, oilseed meal, and vegetable oil). Concerned crops are those cultivated or processed in France: rapeseed, sunflower and soybean. Grain storage companies, feeding industries and oil industries participate voluntarily, and send their self-data that are pooled in a database. The food safety of oilseeds survey plan allows to identify which are main concerns, for instance post-harvest insecticide residues from cross contamination during storage. Results of this monitoring plan were transmitted to the French government and the European Commission in cases of revisions of regulatory thresholds

Guides de bonnes pratiques d’hygiène dans le secteur des oléagineux

According to the Hygiene Package Regulations, European Member States encourage the development and dissemination of national guides to good practice for hygiene and for the application of HACCP principles. These guides are developed by food business sectors. Within the oilseed crops food chain, such guides are developed at different stages: primary production of oilseed crops, collection and storage of seeds, oilseeds crushing and refining industry. This article presents these three guides developed in France by the federations of concerned operators. We describe how these guides are constructed, their scope, their progress in the validation process by the authorities, the health hazards identified, best practices by sector and HACCP study

Guides de bonnes pratiques d’hygiène dans le secteur des oléagineux

According to the Hygiene Package Regulations, European Member States encourage the development and dissemination of national guides to good practice for hygiene and for the application of HACCP principles. These guides are developed by food business sectors. Within the oilseed crops food chain, such guides are developed at different stages: primary production of oilseed crops, collection and storage of seeds, oilseeds crushing and refining industry. This article presents these three guides developed in France by the federations of concerned operators. We describe how these guides are constructed, their scope, their progress in the validation process by the authorities, the health hazards identified, best practices by sector and HACCP study

Hot ethanol extraction: economic feasibility of a new and green process

A new extraction process using ethanol at a temperature above boiling point is assessed from an economic point of view. The study was based on an assessment of the main operating costs adjusted by Lang’s factor. Operating costs were assessed based on energy consumption calculated using a model of the process developed from experimental results, and for a hypothetical unit with a 160 000 t/year rapeseed crushing capacity. The processing cost was estimated at 47.4 € per ton of processed seed. Amortization represented 35% of this cost, energy 32% and manpower 10%. Uncertainty about investment is the main factor that could lead to significant error in this cost, but this uncertainty could be offset by an adjustment of the amortization duration, most of the equipment being durable. Profit generated by the process relies principally on a better valuation of the meal: higher value comes from higher protein content and quality on the market for GM-free high protein feedstuffs. Oil quality is also improved by a lower oleic acidity, low phospholipid content and pigment concentration. This gain was estimated at 2.5% of the crude oil value. Unlike the conventional hexane process, hot ethanol extraction produces molasses in small proportions. Molasses value was set at 70% of corn price. The process profitability appears sufficiently positive to justify further research to test the hypothesis underlying our model. The main uncertainty lies in the performance of the process in real conditions of counter-flow extraction and solvent regeneration