Safety assessment of the process NGR LSP used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the recycling process NGR LSP (EU register number RECYC328). The input is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are dried (step 2), melted in an extruder (step 3) and decontaminated during a melt-state polycondensation step under high temperature and vacuum (step 4).

Characterisation of new sources of acrylamide in food marketed in Belgium.

This study provides occurrence data for acrylamide in various foodstuffs, including those covered by Recommendation (EU) 2019/1888, from 210 samples purchased on the Belgian market. Detection frequencies exceeded 84% in potato-based products other than fries, vegetable crisps, black olives, cocoa powders, coffee substitutes and cereals and snacks. Large variations in acrylamide levels were found in cereals and snacks, with no correlation between cereal type or processing.

Safety assessment of the substance 2,2'-oxydiethylamine for use in plastic food contact materials.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials assessed the safety of 2,2'-oxydiethylamine, which is intended to be used at up to 14% w/w as a monomer along with adipic acid and caprolactam to make polyamide thin films intended for single use, in contact with all types of food under all conditions of time and temperature. Specific migration of 2,2'-oxydiethylamine was tested from a polyamide film in water and was below the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.015 mg/kg.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food and beverages: determination by LC-HRMS and occurrence in products from the Belgian market.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are industrial chemicals encompassing thousands of compounds. Due to their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic character, PFAS have become environmental contaminants, and exposure to these chemicals may lead to adverse health effects. This study aimed to provide a sensitive analytical method for the quantification of 25 PFAS in food including food for the young population and beverages, and to gather the missing occurrence data for the dietary exposure evaluation for the Belgian population.

Risks associated with the presence of PFAS in FCM: An investigation of the Belgian market.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that have been widely used by various industries, including the food contact material industry. These substances are favoured for their ability to repel oil and resist moisture. However, exposure to PFAS has been linked to several health problems, including effects on the immune system.

Validation of a Targeted LC-MS/MS Method for Cereulide and Application in Food and Faeces.

Cereulide is an emetic toxin produced by some strains of . This bacterial toxin, a cyclic 1.2 kDa dodecadepsipeptide, is stable to heat and acids and causes nausea and vomiting when ingested via contaminated food.

Occurrence of Perillaldehyde and Other (Suspected) Genotoxic Flavoring Substances in Water-Based Beverages Consumed by Belgian Children.

Despite the extensive use of flavoring substances in food, their monitoring for regulatory purposes is currently limited. This raises public health issues, especially as some compounds are prohibited due to (geno)toxicity. A solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) method coupled with GC/MS (SIM) was validated here for diverse water-based beverages.

Towards Less Plastic in Food Contact Materials: An In-Depth Overview of the Belgian Market.

The food contact materials (FCMs) industry is forced to develop substitute materials due to constant pressure from consumers and authorities to reduce fossil-based plastic. Several alternatives are available on the market. However, market share, trends, and consumer preferences are still unclear.

Modelling the pesticide transfer during tea and herbal tea infusions by the identification of critical infusion parameters.

Pesticide residues in tea and herbal tea often exceed EU maximum residue limits. Consideration of the transfer of pesticides from the leaves (called transfer factors) to the brew is essential to assess the associated risk. This study identified infusion parameters influencing the transfer behaviour of 61 pesticides and elaborated a predictive model for pesticides with unknown transfer factors in black, green, herbal and flavoured teas.

Analysis of Patulin in Apple Products Marketed in Belgium: Intra-Laboratory Validation Study and Occurrence.

Apple and apple derivatives (e.g., juices, puree) are the most important foodstuffs contaminated with patulin (PAT) in the human diet.

Tiered dietary exposure assessment of steviol glycosides in the Belgian population.

The objective of the present study was to assess the dietary intake of steviol glycosides in the Belgian population and to conduct a risk assessment by comparing the estimated intakes to the acceptable daily intake (ADI). A tiered approach was adopted in this study. First, a Tier 2 assessment was performed using maximum permitted levels.

Pharmacokinetics of Oral Rebaudioside A in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Effects on Glucose Homeostasis: A Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial.

Background And Objectives: Rebaudioside A, a steviol glycoside, is deglycosylated by intestinal microflora prior to the absorption of steviol and conjugation to steviol glucuronide. While glucose-lowering properties are observed for rebaudioside A in mice, they have been attributed to the metabolites steviol and steviol glucuronide. We aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of rebaudioside A and its metabolites in patients with early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in spices and dried herbs and associated risk for the Belgian population.

A total of 120 spices and herbs bought on the Belgian market have been analysed for occurrence of the four EU regulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ΣPAH4). Samples were sorted in three groups according to their use: traditional spices, exotic spices, and herbs. Benzo[a]pyrene has been detected in 56% of samples, while ΣPAH4 were found in 96% of samples.

Development, validation and application of multi-class methods for the analysis of food additives by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

Food additives are used in numerous food products and are characterised by various physicochemical properties. In European member states, their use in food is regulated by the European Union. This work aimed to develop an accurate and high-throughput analytical method enabling the simultaneous determination of additives from different functional classes to facilitate controls and generate occurrence data for exposure assessments.

Concentrations and distribution of chlorinated paraffins in Belgian foods.

This study reports on concentrations of short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs, respectively) in a wide range of food samples (n = 211) purchased in Belgium during 2020. Samples were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and quantified using chlorine content calibration. ∑SCCPs were present above LOQ in 25% of samples with an overall range of View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Organisation of Multi-Mycotoxin Proficiency Tests: Evaluation of the Performances of the Laboratories Using the Triple A Rating Approach.

In accordance with the International Standard Organization ISO 17043, two proficiency tests (PTs) for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxins (AFB, AFB, AFG, AFG); deoxynivalenol; fumonisins FB, FB and B; ochratoxin A, the T-2 toxin; and the HT-2 toxin were conducted in 2019 and 2020 using cornflakes and rusk flours that were prepared in house. The homogeneity and the stability of these materials were verified according to the criteria laid down in ISO 13528 using randomly selected samples. Most of the targeted toxins were found to be homogenously distributed in both materials with no significant changes during the timescale of the PTs.

Citrinin Determination in Food and Food Supplements by LC-MS/MS: Development and Use of Reference Materials in an International Collaborative Study.

The development of incurred reference materials containing citrinin (CIT) and their successful application in a method validation study (MVS) in order to harmonize CIT determination in food and food supplements are demonstrated. CIT-contaminated materials made of red yeast rice (RYR), wheat flour, and leaves (GBL), as well as food supplements made of red yeast rice (FS-RYR) and leaves (FS-GBL), were manufactured in-house via fungal cultivation on collected raw materials. The homogeneity and stability from randomly selected containers were verified according to the ISO 13528.

Targeted LC-MS/MS combined with multilocus DNA metabarcoding as a combinatory approach to determine the amount and the source of pyrrolizidine alkaloids contamination in popular cooking herbs, seeds, spices and leafy vegetables.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and their corresponding N-oxides (PANOs) are natural protoxins biosynthesised by many plant species and are responsible for occasional fatal intoxication outbreaks due to the consumption of contaminated food. However, only in rare cases has the origin of the contamination been determined. Although their presence has been studied in many matrices, occurrence data on popular widely used cooking herbs, seeds, spices and leafy vegetables is very scarce.

Assessment of hazards and risks associated with dietary exposure to mineral oil for the Belgian population.

Recently collected dietary exposure data on mineral oil saturated (MOSH) and aromatic (MOAH) hydrocarbons were used to evaluate the risks associated with exposure to mineral oil through food for the Belgian population. For MOSH, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) value of 19 mg kg bw day based on the hepatic inflammation-associated granulomas found in a 90-day oral study in F-344 rats was used as point of departure (PoD). Due to existing toxicological uncertainties, the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was applied.

Determination of ochratoxin A in edible pork offal: intra-laboratory validation study and estimation of the daily intake via kidney consumption in Belgium.

Pork-derived products can contribute to the overall ochratoxin A (OTA) intake via carry-over from contaminated feed or via mould spoilage of meat products (salami, dry-cured ham, sausage). An analytical method using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated in accordance with the specifications laid down by European Commission. It offered quantification limits of 0.

Carry-over of some Fusarium mycotoxins in tissues and eggs of chickens fed experimentally mycotoxin-contaminated diets.

Fusarium mycotoxins are fungal contaminants found in different crops intended for human and animal consumption. Due to the co-occurrence of several of mycotoxins, the present study aimed at examining the transfer of these toxins into tissues of broiler chickens and eggs of laying hens fed contaminated diets. After an adaptation period, the chickens were fed contaminated diets containing mg/kg levels of deoxynivalenol (DON), enniatins (ENN A, A, B, B) and beauvericin (BEA) and high μg/kg levels of HT-2 toxin (HT-2), T-2 toxin (T-2) and zearalenone (ZEN) during a repletion period of two weeks, followed by a depletion period of two weeks.

New QSAR models to predict chromosome damaging potential based on the in vivo micronucleus test.

A large number of computer-based prediction methods to determine the potential of chemicals to induce mutations at the gene level has been developed over the last decades. Conversely, only few such methods are currently available to predict potential structural and numerical chromosome aberrations. Even fewer of these are based on the preferred testing method for this endpoint, i.

Dietary exposure of the Belgian population to mineral oil.

Recently, presence of mineral oil in numerous foods has been detected. The analysis of mineral oil in food is convoluted since it comprises MOSH (saturated hydrocarbons) and variable amounts of mainly alkylated MOAH (aromatic hydrocarbons). Both fractions have a different toxicological profile and therefore they need to be assessed separately.