The occurrence of persistent organic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food represents a public health concern. The BfR MEAL Study was initiated to generate a comprehensive data base of occurrence data for chemicals in the most consumed foods in Germany. Non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) and PBDEs were analysed in 300 foods, purchased and prepared representatively for the eating behaviour of the population in Germany. Highest levels of NDL-PCBs and PBDEs were detected in spiny dogfish, cod liver, herring, and eel. High NDL-PCB and PBDE levels were observed in other oily fish, wild boar meat, sheep liver, and high-fat dairy products. The comparison of food from conventional and organic production revealed higher NDL-PCB values in the food group ‘meat and meat products’ if produced organically. Occurrence data of this study will improve future dietary exposure and risk assessments in Germany.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2022.100459.].

The aim of this work is to describe the development of a web-based, interactive tool of maximum tolerable consumption levels for selected foods that might be contaminated ('' ContamCalculator ''). The scientific application criteria for the ContamCalculator are described. As an example, we present the fipronil event in summer 2017.

Zusammenfassung Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Beschreibung der Entwicklung einer webbasierten, interaktiven Darstellung von maximalen tolerierbaren Verzehrmengen für ausgewählte Lebensmittel, die beispielsweise in einer Ereignissituation als potenziell kontaminiert angenommen werden („Kontaminantenrechner“). Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt einen Katalog wissenschaftlicher Anwendungskriterien für einen solchen Kontaminantenrechner. Als Anwendungsbeispiel wird der Fipronil-Ereignisfall im Sommer 2017 verwendet.

The first German Total Diet Study, called the BfR MEAL Study, generated a comprehensive dataset of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) in foods representative for the consumption habits in households in Germany. PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs are persistent organic pollutants. Dietary intake is considered to be the most relevant exposure pathway for humans. Levels were examined in 300 foods that were prepared as typically consumed by the population in Germany. Highest PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels were detected in animal-based foods such as fish, butter, dairy products, liver, and meat. The comparison of conventionally and organically produced foods revealed a trend to slightly higher contents in organically produced foods. Sampling discriminated by region and season showed no major differences. Analysed occurrence data will improve future dietary exposure and food safety assessments in Germany.

Es wird ein Verfahren zur Berechnung des notwendigen Stichprobenumfangs in einem Pooling-Design zur Ermittlung des Substanzgehalts in Lebensmitteln beschrieben. Mit diesem kann die Poolgröße und die Anzahl notwendiger Messungen zur Bestimmung eines Mittelwerts mit einer vorgegebenen Konfidenzintervallbreite berechnet werden. Wie stark sich die Anzahl analytischer Messungen durch Pooling mehrerer Proben in einer Sammelprobe reduzieren lässt, hängt dabei von der Relation zwischen biologischer Varianz (Variation zwischen Proben unterschiedlichen Ursprungs) und technischer Varianz (Variation zwischen Wiederholungsmessungen) ab. Die Anwendung der Methode wird am Beispiel der Bestimmung von Dioxinen und polychlorierten Biphenylen (PCB) in Hühnereiern erläutert, kann jedoch auf andere Kontaminanten und Lebensmittel übertragen werden.

Food borne diseases are one of the major health problems worldwide. In the 21st century food processing and environmental impacts are getting increasingly in focus of dietary health concern. National food surveillance programs are monitoring high risk foods in a targeted approach. However, a more comprehensive monitoring with representative data for a whole population is needed to get a realistic picture of the overall exposure to chemicals and nutrients. Therefore, Germany started the first national TDS in 2015. The German TDS involves analysis of nine substance groups ('modules'), which will lead to a modular structure. Environmental contaminates have been chosen as 'core module' due to their ubiquitous occurrence. The core food list (max. 350 food groups) will be established through national food consumption surveys covering the age groups between 0.5 - 80 years. The estimated 25.000 single food items will be purchased considering regions, seasons, and production (organic vs. conventional). Centralized in Berlin, they will be prepared as consumed, homogenized, deep frozen and then delivered to contract laboratories for analysis. The stratification strategy for the core module will serve as basis for the modules veterinary drugs, mycotoxins, perfluorinated tensides (PFTs), pesticides and nutrients. The modules process contaminants, food additives and substances migrating from food packaging will require a more refined level of pooling according type of preparation, authorization and food packaging respectively, compared with the core module. In total the sampling of ~ 60.000 single food items is expected to cover each module. This innovative approach of using overlapping modules in a TDS will lead to the best possible balance between scientific requirements and financial and structural capacities. On the national level, results are highly relevant to close existent data gaps in concentration for contaminants, especially for processing related substances (e.g. process contaminants), of which a TDS is the only methodical tool to assess exposure. The results will be the basis for risk management decisions as well as for risk communication and can advise the food monitoring program to ensure food safety in Germany. On the European level, data can provide support for EFSA opinions in relation to foodborne risks.

Lead is a highly toxic contaminant with food being the major source of exposure for the general public. The second German food consumption survey (Nationale Verzehrsstudie II – NVS II) with about 20 000 participants (15 371 for dietary history interviews used for this study) allowed for an updated exposure assessment for the German population. Based on these comprehensive data, information on consumption of 545 individual food items by the German population was generated. Lead concentrations in food were compiled from the German food monitoring programme, European countries' authority programmes and the published literature, covering the years from 2000 to 2009, and were multiplied with consumption data to obtain estimates of lead intake from food. Average lead concentrations per main food group were highest for meat (including offal), followed by fish (including seafood), vegetables and cereals. Due to high consumption, beverages contributed most to the intake of the general public, followed by main groups vegetables, fruits & nuts and cereals. Lead intake from food was estimated to be 0.53 and 0.72 µg kg–1 bw and day for average and high-end consumers, respectively. This is close to (average consumers) respectively above (high-end consumers) a reference value derived from a recent health risk evaluation performed by EFSA, using the benchmark approach. Uncertainties in these estimates pertain to the influence of values below the limit of quantification and some foods not considered due to lacking occurrence data. In conclusion, the estimated lead intake of the German population from food is still close to health-based reference values. Further efforts to reduce lead intake are required.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and -furan (PCDD/F) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (dl-PCB) exposure from food were estimated using new food consumption data from the recent German food consumption survey (Nationale Verzehrsstudie II - NVS II). Based on these comprehensive data, information on the consumption of 545 individual food items by the German population was derived. Concentrations of dioxin-like compounds in food were compiled from the German Food Monitoring Programme (GFMP), the German Dioxin Database, other German authority programmes, European countries' authority programmes and the published literature covering the years 2000-2010. By multiplication with consumption data, estimates of intake from food were determined. The main food groups contributing most to the intake of the general public are dairy products (including milk), meat and fish (including seafood), followed - due to high consumption - by the main group vegetables. The combined intake of PCDD/F and dl-PCB (as toxic equivalents - TEQ) from food was estimated to be 2.11/1.53pgkg(-1)bw and day and 3.56/2.85pgkg(-1)bw and day (upper/lower bound) for average and high-end consumers, respectively. The estimated intake of average consumers is close to a reference value derived by the Scientific Committee on Food in 2001. Uncertainties in these estimates pertain to the influence of values below the limit of quantification (upper/lower bound ratio) and some foods not considered due to the lack of contamination data.