Identical Ciguatoxin-3C group profiles in Lutjanus bohar from the Pacific and Indian Oceans - indicating the need to re-evaluate geographical CTX classifications

Ciguatoxins (CTXs) are a group of marine biotoxins, consisting of over 30 different congeners that can contaminate marine food webs. Generally, the molecular structures among the known congeners are variable by geographical region (i.e., ocean basin) and vector species. Limited information is available regarding the CTX profiles among or within CTX vector species and their capture regions. Within this study, an in-depth investigation based on a semi-targeted LC-MS/MS approach was conducted to investigate 52 tissue samples from a single species Lutjanus bohar (Lutjanidae), a common CTX vector, sourced from two distinct regions (Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean). All samples revealed the presence of a complex CTX contaminant profile, with samples containing several congeners of the CTX3C-group (2,3,51-trihydroxyCTX3C, 2,3,-dihydroxyCTX3C, 2-hydroxyCTX3C, M-seco-CTX3C, 51-hydroxyCTX3C, CTX3C, and respective 49-epimers in most cases). All samples were previously found to possess a CTX-like toxicity within an in vitro cytotoxicity assay (N2a-bioassay), demonstrating the relevance of CTX3C-group congeners with regard to ciguatera poisoning. Individual samples contained an indistinguishable toxin profile within the species and among the distinct oceanic capture regions. These findings imply either a species-specific CTX metabolism or the emergence of an interoceanic CTX toxin profile. The inter-regional CTX profile demonstrated here provides further evidence that classifying CTX congeners based on ocean basins may be imprecise

Technical guidelines on testing the migration of primary aromatic amines from polyamide kitchenware and of formaldehyde from melamine kitchenware - 1st edition 2011

Comparability of results is an important feature of the measurements carried out for official controls purposes. In the area of food contact materials and articles comparability of results is dependent on the availability of samples representative of the consignment, the type of exposure and the test conditions used as well as on the performance of the method of analysis. These guidelines contain practical information on sampling, migration testing and methodologies for the analytical determination of primary aromatic amines and of formaldehyde. These guidelines were developed specifically in the context of the Regulation 284/2011 laying down specific conditions and detailed procedures for the import of polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware originating in or consigned from [the] People's Republic of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. These guidelines have been prepared by the European Union Reference Laboratory in collaboration with its EU official Network of National Reference Laboratories and have been endorsed by the European Commission competent service DG Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) and its network of Member State Competent Authorities. They are primarily addressed to official control laboratories, national reference laboratories and third party laboratories for providing certificates of compliance. The sampling strategy is addressed to the points of first introduction of import goods in the EU.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Training workshop "Safety of food contact materials: Technical Guidelines for Testing Migration under Regulation EU No 10/2011"

This report outlines the results of the Workshop Technical Guidelines on Migration Testing under Regulation EU No 10/2011JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Transport of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) from baking oven doors into the food

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have been repeatedly detected in the kitchen environment. Especially baking ovens were contaminated with high CP amounts on the insides of the doors. To investigate if CPs could be transferred into baked food, we spiked self-synthesized single chain C12-CP and C15-CP standards onto the inside door of an unused, CP-free baking oven. Experiments were performed under different conditions to assess possible CP transportation pathways. Coconut fat was used as food simulant, the exhaust air was monitored with cellulose filter paper and remaining CPs were collected via cotton wipes. In all experiments, both C12- and C15-CPs could be identified in both the food simulant and the cellulose samplers. Mean transfer rates into the food simulant amounted to 2.2% for C12-CPs and 5.8% for C15-CPs. Baking of food in CP-containing baking ovens may perceptibly increase the CP intake of consumers

Quantification of PET cyclic and linear oligomers in teabags by a validated LC-MS method - In silico toxicity assessment and consumer's exposure

Determination of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dimer up to heptamer 1st series cyclic 14 oligomers, applying an LC-qTOF-MS method, has been developed and validated. Recoveries 15 ranged between 80-112 % with RSDs lower than 15 %. An innovative semi-quantitative approach 16 has been applied for 2nd and 3rd series cyclic oligomers, using the closest structural-similar 1st 17 series cyclic oligomer standard as analytical reference. Oligomers from the three series were 18 quantified in PET teabags after migration experiments with water and food simulants C and D1. 19 No legal migration limits exist currently for these substances. In silico genotoxicity assessment of 20 all identified oligomers has been performed and showed no genotoxicity alert for linear or cyclic 21 molecules. Exposure assessment was performed using EFSA's approach on the total sum of 22 migrating oligomers and on toxicological threshold-of-concern. Amounts found in water were in 23 some cases significantly higher than the respective limits, especially if the worst-case scenario of 24 multiple consumption.JRC.F.5-Food and Feed Complianc

MCCP: are medium-chain chlorinated paraffins of concern for humans?

Glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl]-glycine) is the most widely used herbicide worldwide. Due to health concerns about glyphosate exposure, its continued use is controversially discussed. Biomonitoring is an important tool in safety evaluation and this study aimed to determine exposure to glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA, in association with food consumption data, in participants of the cross-sectional KarMeN study (Germany). Glyphosate and AMPA levels were measured in 24-h urine samples from study participants (n = 301). For safety evaluation, the intake of glyphosate and AMPA was calculated based on urinary concentrations and checked against the EU acceptable daily intake (ADI) value for glyphosate. Urinary excretion of glyphosate and/or AMPA was correlated with food consumption data. 8.3% of the participants (n = 25) exhibited quantifiable concentrations (> 0.2 µg/L) of glyphosate and/or AMPA in their urine. In 66.5% of the samples, neither glyphosate (< 0.05 µg/L) nor AMPA (< 0.09 µg/L) was detected. The remaining subjects (n = 76) showed traces of glyphosate and/or AMPA. The calculated glyphosate and/or AMPA intake was far below the ADI of glyphosate. Significant, positive associations between urinary glyphosate excretion and consumption of pulses, or urinary AMPA excretion and mushroom intake were observed. Despite the widespread use of glyphosate, the exposure of the KarMeN population to glyphosate and AMPA was found to be very low. Based on the current risk assessment of glyphosate by EFSA, such exposure levels are not expected to pose any risk to human health. The detected associations with consuming certain foods are in line with reports on glyphosate and AMPA residues in food

Release of Melamine and Formaldehyde from Melamine-Formaldehyde Plastic Kitchenware

The release of melamine and formaldehyde from kitchenware made of melamine resins is still a matter of great concern. To investigate the migration and release behavior of the monomers from melamine-based food contact materials into food simulants and food stuffs, cooking spoons were tested under so-called hot plate conditions at 100 °C. Release conditions using the real hot plate conditions with 3% acetic acid were compared with conditions in a conventional migration oven and with a release to deionized water. Furthermore, the kinetics of the release were studied using Arrhenius plots giving an activation energy for the release of melamine of 120 kJ/mol. Finally, a correlation between quality of the resins, specifically the kind of bridges between the monomers, and the release of melamine, was confirmed by CP/MAS 13C-NMR measurements of the melamine kitchenware. Obviously, the ratio of methylene bridges and dimethylene ether bridges connecting the melamine monomers during the curing process can be directly correlated with the amount of the monomers released into food