Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety最新文献

The international working group “Development of methods for identification of foodstuffs produced by means of genetic engineering techniques” was established pursuant to § 64 of the German Food and Feed Code (LFGB). It has developed a guideline for implementing and verifying digital PCR methods previously validated as real-time PCR techniques. While event-specific methods in testing of genetically modified organisms (GMO) have traditionally relied on real-time PCR, new digital PCR technologies offer significant advantages and therefore, leading to an increased use by control laboratories. This guideline provides practical recommendations for transferring the real-time PCR to digital PCR and for verifying the digital PCR method. The guideline is applicable to analysis of GMO in food, feed and seed and is freely available on the website of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).

Nineteen cannabinoids, including Δ⁹-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), were quantified in 22 CBD oils, 2 CBG (cannabigerol) oils, and 2 CBN (cannabinol) oils, marketed as food supplements, aroma oils, or cosmetic preparations. Analyses were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The declared concentrations of CBD (or CBG, CBN) in the oils ranged from 2.5 to 20%. Actual concentrations compared to declared concentrations ranged from 81 to 226%. CBD concentrations of up to 9 mg per drop were found. Δ⁹-THC was detected in 20 of 26 samples, with concentrations ranging from 5 to 1576 mg/kg (mean = 536 mg/kg). Considering the highest daily intake suggested by one manufacturer (20 drops) and a body weight of 70 kg, the measured Δ⁹-THC concentration in 50% (n = 13) of the products would exceed the acute reference dose (ARfD) of 1 µg/kg body weight (bw) derived for Δ⁹-THC by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). For 7 samples, only 2 drops of oil would be sufficient to exceed the ARfD of Δ⁹-THC.

Regulations on nutrition and health claims are useful to protect consumers from deceptive practices of unscrupulous food manufacturers. Consumer protection is best achieved when relevant regulations are available and enforced. So far, no study has analyzed the robustness of regulations on nutrition and health claims in Malawi. In the present study, Malawi’s regulation was compared with Codex Alimentarius as well as European, U.S American, and the Republic of South Africa’s (RSA) regulations on nutrition and health claims. The study revealed that Malawi does not have regulations or guidelines on health claims and therefore, any health claim can be made. Likewise, Malawi’s regulation on nutrition claims was found to be the least demanding and less elaborate. Out of 11 nutrition claims related requirements, the Malawi regulation satisfied only 3. The lack of comprehensive nutrition and health claims regulations in Malawi may give an opportunity to dishonest manufacturers to mislead and deceive consumers. False claims can also derail government’s efforts towards addressing some nutrient deficiencies through food fortification programs. Currently, it is difficult to effectively regulate nutrition and health claims in Malawi. Therefore, the findings are a wake-up call for Malawi and other countries that may be in a similar situation to take the necessary remedial actions.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used to reduce exposure when working with chemicals. For pesticides, exposure scenarios comprise mixing and loading (M&L) and application. The exposure prediction model recommended by European regulatory agencies for operator risk assessments—the Agricultural Operator Exposure Model (AOEM) – is based on 48 operator exposure studies involving over 500 professional operators from 10 European countries in typical working situations to assess exposure under realistic field conditions. We used the AOEM data to assess the efficiency of exposure reduction resulting from wearing chemical-resistant nitrile gloves and non-certified working coveralls during M&L (tank and backpack sprayer), applications using groundboom and airblast spraying, and outdoor and indoor (greenhouse) applications using handheld sprayers. All studies indicated consistent and high exposure reduction > 90% for gloves and non-certified coveralls across all investigated scenarios. Exceptions were almost exclusively observed when an operator incorrectly used the PPE. The mean exposure reduction from all operators, including those that used PPE incorrectly, was 95.0% for gloves and 96.4% for polyester/cotton working coveralls during M&L, and 91.1% for gloves and 94.9% for non-certified coveralls during all application scenarios. This analysis confirms the essential role of PPE and non-certified working coveralls in reducing operator exposure to pesticides. Outliers indicate that operators need to be properly trained and adhere to label instructions to apply pesticides according to good agricultural practices.

The aim of the first work package (WP 1) of SocialLab II was to establish a monitoring system for framework conditions that influence the development of social criticism and acceptance of livestock farming. Based on the results of SocialLab I (Christoph-Schulz et al., J Consum Prot Food Saf 13:145–236, 2018), the aim was to establish a long-term longitudinal study. The monitoring was carried out, set up and tested online with a total of 4 survey waves and representative samples of consumers. In addition, farmers and retailers were surveyed. This enabled the development and validation of a survey tool that will allow the German Ministry of Agriculture to conduct surveys at regular intervals on the following topics that are important in the societal debate on the further development of livestock farming.