CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS ARE...

EUROPE-WIDEMONITORING OF CONTAMINANTS IN

THE FOOD CHAIN

COMPARABLE DATA FROM ACROSS EUROPE

EFSA is the keystone of EU risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. In close collaboration with national authorities and in open consultation with its stakeholders, EFSA provides independent scientific advice and clearcommunication on existing and emerging risks. www.efsa.europa.eu

Consumer safety Contaminant levels in food are often very low and harmless for consumers. However, some contaminants can cause e�ects such as food poisoning, or, their accumulation over time might harm animal and human health.

Main types Natural toxins

Produced by fungi, algae or plants including some weeds and sea plankton

Environmental contaminantsIndustrial and consumer chemicals present in air, soil and water

Process contaminantsFormed during food processing like high-temperature cooking

Metals & “inorganic” substancesIncludes lead, mercury and substances like nitrates or �uorine

OthersIncludes unauthorised veterinary medicines

… substances unintentionally present in food or feed due to food production, processing, handling or transport, or as a result of environmental contamination of air, soil and water.

THIS SYSTEM IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF DATA USED TO:

• European countries monitor levels of contaminants found in food and feed

• Data are used to assess exposure of people and animals to contaminants

• Since 2010, most countries submit data to EFSA using Standard Sample Description (SSD)

• SSD is a standardised reporting format for transmission of analytical data to EFSA

• Understand how often foods are contaminated and by how much • Estimate consumer exposure and identify the most exposed populations• Protect public health by limiting contaminants in food • Evaluate prevention, reduction, monitoring programmes

Implemented(electronic transmission)Implemented(simpli�ed format)

Adoption of SSDin Europe

OtherMetals/Inorganics

Natural toxins

Processcontaminants

Environmental

Total results*received by EFSA

by type(in thousands)

Total number of comparable results* (in thousands)

Food-related data received 2010-2013 (since introduction of SSD)

343

331

245

179

152

147

123

115

93

87

Total results* received in top 10 food categories2010 - 2013 (in thousands) There are over 20 main categories of food and drink

Fish/seafoodMeat/meat productsSugar/confectionaryGrains/grain-based productsVegetables/fungiAnimal and vegetable fats/oilsLegumes/nuts/oilseedsMilk/dairy productsDrinking waterEggs/egg products

Number ofEFSA scientific

opinions oncontaminants(2003-2013) Other

Naturaltoxins

Environmental

Processcontaminants

Metals/Inorganics

877

513

644

20841

4

42

17

34

22

79 (2010)

866 (2011)

686 (2012)

652 (2013)

*“Results” are the number of reported analytical results. Unvalidated data omitted.