Food Law News - EU - 2001


Standing Committee on Foodstuffs, 2-3 April 2001

CONTAMINATS - Standing Committee Discussion of Various Issues Relating to Mycotoxins

Patulin in apple juice and apple juice ingredients in other beverages.
Presence of apple juice in other foodstuffs.
Discussion on future Community measures to be taken

At its 32 nd session in March 2000, the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants proposed the limit of 50 µg/kg for patulin in apple juice and apple juice ingredients in other beverages for adoption at Step 8 to the Codex Alimentarius Commission (July 2001).

Although various exposure assessments indicate that the average lifetime exposure of patulin are well below the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI), these recent assessments indicate that the exposure to patulin of children through the consumption of apple juice is in the range of, or even exceeds the PMTDI during a considerable period of the childhood.

The Committee was of the opinion that this aspect needed a closer examination with regard to the potential health risks for children and that it was premature to adopt the level of 50 µg/kg as maximum level for patulin in apple juice. The Committee agreed that in view of the discussion in Codex Alimentarius Commission, a Community position should be prepared outlining this position.

Aflatoxins - Update on the situation with regard the RASFF notifications on findings of the presence of high levels of aflatoxins in peanuts originating from China, peanuts from Egypt, pistachio's from Iran and figs, (pistachio's and hazelnuts) from Turkey.
Discussion on follow-up.

- pistachio's from Iran:

- figs (pistachio's and hazelnuts) from Turkey.

- peanuts from China

- peanuts from Egypt.


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