Risk Assessment of Food Allergens – Part 4: Establishing exemptions from mandatory declaration for priority food allergens

Risk Assessment of Food Allergens – Part 4: Establishing exemptions from mandatory declaration for priority food allergens

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2024-02-26

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 924008892X

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The Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) requested scientific advice as to whether certain foods and ingredients, such as highly refined foods and ingredients, that are derived from the list of foods known to cause hypersensitivity can be exempted from mandatory declaration. The objective of this fourth meeting was to expand on the recommendations from the first meeting concerning derivatives of food allergens and establish a framework for evaluating exemptions for food allergens. A pro forma process has been developed and tested against allergen derivatives previously granted exemptions in various countries or regions and found to be effective for consideration in future exemption decisions. The Expert Committee recommends that the process outlined in the pro forma process be used to guide any future development and evaluation of derivative exemptions. Establishment of safety based upon this weight of evidence approach is dependent upon consideration of data quality, outcome of the exposure assessment for all intended ingredient uses (specified for exemption), and review by competent authorities (as needed). When safety is established, exemption can be justified.


FAO/WHO background document on the risks and benefits of fish consumption

FAO/WHO background document on the risks and benefits of fish consumption

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. [Author] [Author]

Published: 2024-07-10

Total Pages: 508

ISBN-13: 9251389446

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The report of the first Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption was published in 2010. Since then, new literature, data and information on the subject have become available. As such, FAO and WHO decided to generate a background report consisting of a comprehensive literature review, followed by an expert consultation, to update the report with new scientific evidence. This background document aims to provide scientific evidence about the risks and benefits of fish consumption in order to update the 2010 Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption. To provide new scientific evidence, five extensive literature reviews were conducted, focusing on the following five topics: 1. evidence of health benefits from fish consumption; 2. toxic effects of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) (from studies published since 2010); 3. toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg) (from studies published since 2010); 4. the role of selenium (Se) with regard to the health effects of MeHg; 5. occurrence data for MeHg, dioxins and dl-PCBs in fishery and aquaculture products (from studies published since 2010). The reviews followed a systematic approach, performing a systematic literature search and implementing elements from systematic literature reviews. A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets prespecified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question.


Food safety in a circular economy

Food safety in a circular economy

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. [Author] [Author]

Published: 2024-08-21

Total Pages: 116

ISBN-13: 9251390053

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Agrifood systems require sustained growth to maintain food security for the global population, while facing unprecedented pressure from challenges of climate change and resource depletion. In this context, evaluating, holistically planning and transitioning to circularity will be critical to improve sustainability and face those challenges. While circular economy initiatives offer considerable promise in improving sustainability and increasing performance, these benefits are juxtaposed by the increasing evidence that contaminants, physical, microbiological or chemical, can get introduced, persist and potentially lead to unsafe food. Therefore, protecting food safety is key for the success of transitioning our current linear agrifood system to a more sustainable and circular one. This report provides a synthesis of current and emerging evidence of food safety risks in circular agrifood initiatives, with an aim to understand challenges and opportunities to manage and enhance food safety. Food safety has to be an equal performance indicator for any transition, requiring addressing data gaps, focusing research efforts and exploring opportunities for improving food safety outcomes. All parties in the agrifood system need to proactively do their part to ensure agrifood systems develop, by harnessing the innovation in this area, and at the same time produce safe food.


Food safety in the context of limited food availability

Food safety in the context of limited food availability

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. [Author] [Author]

Published: 2024-05-24

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 925138777X

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Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) and ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) are used to prevent and treat malnutrition in children. [Author] They are often produced in regions experiencing food insecurity and include edible oils obtained from oleaginous seeds or fruits that must be refined to remove undesirable substances and ensure adequate shelf-life for the product. [Author] However, the formation of the heat-induced contaminants 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) fatty acid esters and glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) may occur during the refining process of edible oils. [Author] 3-MCPD and its fatty acid esters are present in many other foodstuffs and most of the total lifetime exposure is attributed to foods other than LNS/RUTF. [Author] While the only Codex standard developed for 3-MCPD is for liquid condiments containing acid hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, no Codex standards are available for GEs. [Author] This publication provides an overview of risk assessments for 3-MCPD and GEs previously performed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other authorities, based on chronic exposure. [Author] The use of LNS/RUTF is intended to be of finite duration and confined to a specific life stage. [Author] The aim of this report was to provide an assessment to characterize the risk of less-than-lifetime exposure to 3-MCPD (including 3-MCPD fatty acid esters) and GEs via LNS/RUTF in the context of limited food availability. [Author] The thresholds identified herein for concentrations of 3-MCPD and glycidol equivalents in LNS/RUTF products are considered to represent a level of exposure that is of low concern for human health. [Author]


Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2024-10-25

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13: 9240100873

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Evolving science and debate concerning the benefits and risks of consuming fish have resulted in confusion over the years, and national and international food safety agencies have recognized the need to provide useful, clear and relevant information in this regard to consumers. In October 2023, FAO and WHO held the second Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption to analyse new scientific evidence on the matter and draw relevant conclusions and recommendations. The overall conclusions of the exercise show that consuming fish provides energy, protein and a range of other nutrients important for health, and that there are benefits related to fish consumption during all life stages (pregnancy, childhood and adulthood). General population studies show that the benefits and individual effects of fish consumption vary depending on overall diet, the characteristics of consumers, and the fish that is consumed.


Author:

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published:

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13: 9251391076

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Plant Food Allergens

Plant Food Allergens

Author: E. N. Clare Mills

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2008-04-15

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 0470995165

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Plant Food Allergens is concerned with a paradox of immense, potentially life-threatening significance to about 1 in 100 adults and 1 in 10 children. The paradox is that certain nutritious proteins from wholesome foods can act as if the were harmful, sometimes deadly poisons, to these people who possess an allergy to them. In order to study the complex problems of food allergy a EU funded network, called PROTALL was set up, bringing together a wide range of clinicians and scientists. This important book is largely based on the outcome of its investigations. Written by over 30 acknowledged experts and carefully edited by Dr Clare Mills and Professor Peter Shewry, themselves well known internationally; this important work covers all major aspects of the subject. Commencing with introductory chapters, the comprehensive contents of Plant Food Allergens includes details of the major allergens including: plant lipid transfer proteins, the 2S albumin proteins, the cereal á-amylase/trypsin family, latex and plant chitinases, profilins, bet v 1-homologous allergens and plant seed globulins. The book concludes with important chapters on the assessment of the allergenicity of novel and GM foods, and the monitoring of and technological effects on allergenicity of proteins in the food industry. Plant Food Allergens is an essential purchase for a wide range of scientists and clinicians including plant and agricultural scientists, chemists, allergy specialists, food scientists and technologists, pharmacologists, physiologists and nutritionists. Libraries in all research establishments and universities researching and teaching these subjects will need copies of this important book on their shelves Dr Clare Mills is based at The Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK. Professor Peter Shewry is based at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK.


Molecular Allergy Diagnostics

Molecular Allergy Diagnostics

Author: Jörg Kleine-Tebbe

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-05-08

Total Pages: 537

ISBN-13: 3319424998

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This book, based on a recent German publication, offers an overview of basic data and recent developments in the groundbreaking field of molecular allergology. It comprehensively explores the origin and structure of single allergen molecules ("components") and their utility in improving the management of type I, IgE-mediated allergic reactions and disorders like allergic respiratory diseases, food allergies, and anaphylaxis. Highly specific testing, called component-resolved diagnostics, aims to identify and utilize single molecules. Over 200 single allergens from plant or animal sources have been applied to single or multiplex laboratory testing for the presence of allergen-specific IgE. This leap in assay sensitivity and specificity has led to three major advances in patient management: discrimination between primary allergic sensitization and complex cross-reactivity, recognition of IgE profiles for certain allergens and identification of patients most likely to benefit from allergen-specific immunotherapy. The book discusses in detail the benefits and limitations of this 21st century technology, and offers suggestions for the use of molecular allergology in routine clinical practice. It is a “must read” for physicians treating allergic patients as well as scientists interested in natural allergic molecules and their interactions with the human immune system.


Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants

Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants

Author: T. K. Lim

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-02-02

Total Pages: 955

ISBN-13: 9400756534

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This book continues as volume 5 of a multicompendium on Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants. It covers edible fruits/seeds used fresh, cooked or processed as vegetables, cereals, spices, stimulant, edible oils and beverages. It covers selected species from the following families: Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cunoniaceae, Lythraceae, Papaveraceae, Poaceae, Polygalaceae, Polygonaceae, Proteaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rubiaceae, Salicaceae, Santalaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae and Zingiberaceae. This work will be of significant interest to scientists, medical practitioners, pharmacologists, ethnobotanists, horticulturists, food nutritionists, botanists, agriculturists, conservationists, lecturers, students and the general public. Topics covered include: taxonomy; common/English and vernacular names; origin and distribution; agroecology; edible plant parts and uses; botany; nutritive/pharmacological properties, medicinal uses, nonedible uses; and selected references.