Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
contact with food. It includes provisions for materials and articles expected to come
into contact with foods or to transfer their constituents to food (e.g., printing inks and
adhesive labels). However, the regulation does not include covering or coating
substances that are part of the food and that may be eaten with it, such as sausage
skin. These general laws are supplemented by speci
c laws governing particular
materials, such as food contact plastics (Regulation 10/2011) [20] and
“
active and
intelligent
”
food contact materials (Regulation No. 450/2009) [21]. In the 2009
regulations,
a maximum level of 0.01 mg/kg in food for the migration of a non-
authorized substance through a functional barrier
“
was set in place for infant formula
together with the list of authorized substances. The 2011 regulations go further, listing
actual active substances that may be present in packaging and their permitted
migration levels in different types of food. Where a substance is listed as
”
“
not
detected
c studies, it is taken that the limit of detection of this
substance would be 0.01 mg/kg of food. Acrylamide is actually not in this category as
speci
”
from the scienti
c regulatory limits are still being investigated and an ongoing surveillance
exercise in Europe is taking place. Maximum limits for other contaminants in food
have been set by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 [22], which came into
force on March 1, 2007. Maximum limits in certain foods were set for the following
contaminants: nitrate, mycotoxins, and metals, but it also included contaminants such
as 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), dioxins and dioxin-like poly-
chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzo
(
)pyrene).
When a serious instance of food contamination occurs, speci
α
c regulations may be
put in place to prevent future contamination. In the case of the contamination of chili
products with Sudan I, a new legislation was introduced within the European
Community (2003/460/EC) [23]. This states that all hot chili and hot chili products
imported into the Community in whatever form, intended for human consumption,
should be accompanied by an analytical report provided by the concerned importer or
food business operator demonstrating that the consignment does not contain Sudan I.
In the absence of such an analytical report, the importer established in the Community
shall have the product tested to demonstrate that it does not contain Sudan I. In case of
pending availability of the analytical report, the product shall be detained under
of
cial supervision. The legislation also states that Member States shall conduct
random sampling and analysis of hot chili and hot chili products at import or already
on the market.
In the U.S., the thresholds for chemical contamination in food are regulated by
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) titles and several U.S. laws. For example, action
levels for poisonous or deleterious substances in food are established and revised
according to criteria speci
ed in 21 CFR 109 and 21 CFR 509 and are revoked when a
regulation establishing a tolerance for the same substance and use becomes effective.
21 CFR 109 actually includes limits for polychlorinated biphenyls with a lowest
limit of 0.2 ppm in infant and junior foods [24].
21 CFR 170.39 covers substances used in food-contact articles (e.g., food
packaging or food processing equipment) and the FDA states that a substance
used in a food-contact article (e.g., food packaging) that migrates into food, or
