Food Contaminants

Science Briefs

European Commission publishes the 2011 Annual Report of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)

The European Commission recently published the 2011 annual report of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). The RASFF plays a key role in ensuring a high level of food safety for consumers.

EFSA and ECDC release new European Union Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) recently released its latest report on trends and sources of zoonoses in the European Union. This Science Brief focuses on the findings for two disease-causing bacteria, Campylobacter and Salmonella.

Fish benefits outweigh risks, conclude two studies

Two new studies published in the US this week seek to blow out of the water fears that people who regularly consumer seafood are putting themselves at risk due to methylmercury, PCB and dioxin contamination. Rather, the benefits of regular fish consumption on heart disease risk and neurodevelopment were seen to outweigh the risks.

Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier than Conventional Alternatives?

Researchers at Stanford University, USA conducted a systematic review of published literature to determine if organically produced foods are safer or healthier than conventionally produced foods. Overall, the published literature does not suggest health benefits from consuming organic rather than conventional foods; nevertheless, it found that consumption of organic produce may reduce exposure to pesticides and consumption of organic pork and chicken may reduce exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Boosting the benefits and minimising the risks: determining optimal seafood consumption

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) recently published the findings of a study which considered the risks and benefits associated with seafood consumption and determined the optimum quantity of seafood which should be consumed per week.

EFSA and ECDC publish new European Union Summary Report on Antimicrobial Resistance in Zoonotic Bacteria from Humans, Animals and Food

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) recently released the 2010 European Union (EU) Summary Report on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food. This article focuses on the findings for two zoonotic bacteria, Campylobacter and Salmonella.