Pesticide residues in food: Fresenius Conference presents risks

DORTMUND and MAINZ, Germany -- The use of pesticides in industry and agriculture has become the norm. Remaining residues often find their way into the food chain -- contaminated feed and food are the result. In many cases, the long-term effects of the absorbed substances on the human organism are still unclear.

On 28 and 29 February 2012, experts discussed the risk assessment of pesticide residues and other related topics on the 10^th International Fresenius Conference "Food Safety and Dietary Risk Assessment" in Mainz.

Kathrin Gottlob of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR, Germany) spoke about the evaluation of biocides and transfer of biocide residues into food and feed.

Basically, Gottlob said, there are two different ways for biocides to reach the food chain: On one hand, contaminated cattle feed and biocide containing disinfectants for the cleaning of stables would cause residues in farm animals. On the other hand, traces of biocides could also be transferred into food during processing and through storage. For example, disinfected work surfaces in kitchens or biocide-containing packaging materials could lead to contaminated food, the expert said.

Guidelines for risk assessment for both transmission ways are being developed, she said. For instance, the Dietary Risk Assessment Working Group (DRAWG) is working on a technical guidance for the transfer of residues to food which covered various transmission scenarios for both biocidal applications in food industry and domestic premises. Another guideline by DRAWG regarding the biocide disposal in livestock was published for consultation in December 2011.
Revising pesticide exposure in fish
The EU Directive EC 1107/2009 intended a livestock metabolism study whenever pesticide residues are likely, Dr Christian Schlechtriem (Fraunhofer Institute) stated. Up to now, only hens, goats and pigs were being tested. Fish in contrast – after all an important protein source within the human diet -- were omitted so far.

However, the controlled farming of fish, known as aquaculture, would arouse more and more suspicion that fed plants were contaminated and would therewith have a negative effect on the quality of the edible parts of fish, Schlechtriem went on. Therefore, the EU intends to publish new data requirements for fish as part of the approval process for pesticides. Because of that, a new guidance for risk assessment on fish by the BVL, BfR, the Fraunhofer Institute and the companies Syngenta and BASF was submitted to the European Commission in early February, Schlechtriem stated. By way of example, the manual would provide apart from an outline of the study concept a description on which data were needed for evaluation and would give advice on the interpretation of results.

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