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Rigorous risk assessment of chemicals in food and feed is essential to address the growing worldwide concerns about food safety. High-quality toxicological data on food-relevant chemicals are fundamental for risk modeling and assessment in the food safety area. The organization and analysis of substantial toxicity information can positively support decision-making by providing insight into toxicity trends. However, it remains challenging to systematically obtain fragmented toxicity data, and related toxicological resources are required to meet the current demands. In this study, we collected 221,439 experimental toxicity records for 5,657 food-relevant chemicals identified from extensive databases and literature, along with their information on chemical identification, physicochemical properties, environmental fates, and biological targets. Based on the aggregated data, a freely available web-based databank, Food-Relevant Available Chemicals Toxicology Databank (FRAC-TD) is presented, which supports multiple browsing ways and search criterions. Applying FRAC-TD for data-driven analysis, we revealed the underlying toxicity profiles of food-relevant chemicals in humans, mammals, and other species in the food chain. Expectantly, FRAC-TD could positively facilitate toxicological studies, toxicity prediction, and risk assessments in the food industry.

Inclusion of alternative methods that replace, reduce, or refine (3R) animal testing within regulatory safety evaluations of chemicals generally faces many hurdles. The goal of the current work is to i) collect responses from key stakeholders involved in food safety evaluations on what they consider the most relevant factors that influence the acceptance and use of 3R methods and to ii) use these responses to formulate activities needed to increase the acceptance and use of 3R methods, particularly for kinetics. The stakeholders were contacted by e-mail for their opinions, asking the respondents to write down three barriers and/or drivers and scoring these by distributing 5 points over the three factors. The main barriers that obtained the highest aggregated scores were i) uncertain predictability 3R methods/lack of validation, ii) insufficient guidance regulators/industry and iii) insufficient harmonization of legislation. The major driver identified was the possibility of 3R methods to provide more mechanistic information. Based on the results, recommendations are given to enhance the acceptance and application of 3R toxicokinetic methods in food safety evaluations. These include steering of regulatory data requirements as well as creating (funding) opportunities for development and validation of alternative methods for kinetics and development of guidances., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

High content analysis combines automated microscopy and quantitative image analysis to visualize in vitro models for multi-parameter analysis， which has the advantages of high efficiency， rapidity and multi-targeting， and it has been applied in the field of in vitro toxicology research. Food toxicology， as a branch of toxicology， plays an important role in safeguarding food safety and human health. Traditional experiments can hardly meet the current rapidly increasing demand for safety evaluation of various food-related risk substances， for which high content analysis provides an efficient technical approach. Recent applications of high content analysis in the field of food toxicology would be reviewed in this article， in order to provide reference for food safety assessment methods and technological innovation.

Food safety has long been an area of concern. The selection of stable and efficient model organisms is particularly important for food toxicology studies. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are small model vertebrates, and 70% of human genes have at least one zebrafish ortholog. Zebrafish have advantages as model organisms due to their short life cycle, strong reproductive ability, easy rearing, and low cost. Zebrafish embryos have the advantage of being sensitive to the breeding environment and thus have been used as biosensors. Zebrafish and their embryos have been widely used for food toxicology assessments. This review provides a systematic and comprehensive summary of food toxicology studies using zebrafish as model organisms. First, we briefly introduce the multidimensional mechanisms and structure–activity relationship studies of food toxicological assessment. Second, we categorize these studies according to eight types of hazards in foods, including mycotoxins, pesticides, antibiotics, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, food additives, nanoparticles, and other food‐related ingredients. Finally, we list the applications of zebrafish in food toxicology studies in line with future research prospects, aiming to provide a valuable reference for researchers in the field of food science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dearth of data on rare earth elements (REE), yttrium and scandium in foods which extends also to baseline datasets for edible wild mushrooms, though this has started to change in the last decade. Concentrations and shale normalized patterns of REE and Y (REY) were studied by using inductively coupled plasma–quadrupole mass spectrometer in 22 pools (2235 specimens) of Cantharellus cibarius (Golden Chanterelle) collected in Poland and also a pool of C. minor (Small Chanterelle) (153 specimens) from Yunnan (Chinese Province). The total REY plus Sc varied in C. cibarius from 10 to 593 µg kg−1 dw whereas that for the Yunnan's C. minor was 2072 µg kg−1 dw. C. minor from Yunnan has higher REY and Sc compared to the C. cibarius. Sc concentrations in twenty C. cibarius pools were below 1 µg kg−1 dw, but 17 and 27 µg kg−1 dw were detected at the other two sites and 66 µg kg−1 dw was detected in C. minor. The median Y content of C. cibarius and C. minor was 22 µg kg−1 dw and 200 µg kg−1 dw. The difference in REY and Sc concentrations and shale normalized patterns between mushrooms from Poland and Yunnan seems to reflect the regional difference in concentration and composition of these elements in the soil bedrock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu are lanthanides, also referred to as "rare earth" elements (occurring at ultra-low concentration, i.e. each, at ppb or lower levels) in plant and animal foods including edible wild mushrooms. Could it be that lanthanides when collectively reported as a summed value (widely referred to as REE) are at relatively high concentrations because extremely high contributions from individual elements? REE elements naturally occur in environmental media such as the soil substrate in which plants and fungi grow in a characteristic pattern (Oddo-Harkins rule), with most of the available literature confirming the extension of this pattern in fungi. Abnormalities therefore need to be examined closely and resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, we assessed health risk posed to Iranian consumers through exposure to metals via oral consumption of coffee, tea, and herbal tea of various trademarks collected from Iran market. Level of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, and Pb in 243 samples was quantified by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The metal levels in coffee samples from different trademarks of a specific country had statistically similar levels of metals; however, metal levels differed significantly among brand names form different countries. Metal levels in tea samples differed significantly between domestic and imported products, while different trademarks of similar countries did not show significant variations in this respect. Metal level in herbal tea samples did not show significant variations among different trademarks. Nevertheless, it should be highlighted that mean concentrations of metals statistically differed among different herbal tea samples. Deterministic hazard quotients (HQs) were <1.0 for all non-carcinogenic metals and total hazard index (HI) values indicated no risk; however, probabilistic assessment calculated HI values >1. In both deterministic and probabilistic scenarios, carcinogenic metals As and Ni had an estimated incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of medium level while that of Pb indicated no cancer risk. Sensitivity analysis showed that the concentration of metals had the most significant effect on non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular fluorescence imaging (CFI) uses fluorescent substances to label specific biomarkers in cells, recording their dynamic changes via fluorescent signals to study physiological processes. With advancements in fluorescent probe technology and cell biology, CFI has been widely used in food toxicology studies. CFI offers significant advantages over conventional toxicological methods, but no articles summarize this development. This paper reviews the application of CFI in detecting and evaluating toxic metal elements, chemical residues, mycotoxins, bacteria, viruses, and food processing contaminants, as well as evaluating vitamins, functional minerals, functional amino acids, functional peptides and polyphenol compounds. Additionally, the challenges and future prospects of CFI in food testing and toxicology are discussed. • Advanced cellular fluorescence imaging (CFI) for food evaluation are reviewed. • Different ways of imaging cells are described and compared. • Case-studies are presented on food evaluation by cellular fluorescence imaging. • Future scope of CFI for food evaluation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The food industry will be impacted by the acceleration of nanotechnology, its creative applications and constant advancements. Nanostructured materials are utilized to encapsulate food components, packaging and nanosensors. These materials make the compound more soluble, bioavailable and increase its delivery speed, while also keeping the active components safe throughout production and storage. The review outlines the effects of nanotechnology on food systems and describes the outcomes of antimicrobial nanostructural materials on bacteria. It also highlights the characteristics of food‐nanotechnology along with its existing and possible future applications in food science. The potential for nanoparticles to be used in the food industry to supply customers with safe, contaminant‐free food and to increase the acceptance of the food due to its enhanced functional characteristics has been summarized as well.

The purpose of the conference session summarized in this article was to bring together international experts on food toxicology and food safety and share the current scientific knowledge on these topics. The presentations covered a wide range of interdisciplinary issues, including (i) the impact of diet on body weight and health outcomes including results from animal models of carcinogenesis, (ii) methods for microbial oil extraction, (iii) food processing and its impact on food safety and health, (iv) novel compounds to avoid mycotoxin contamination of agricultural products, and (v) the safety of cannabidiol in food supplements based on Cannabis sativa extracts. Some of the conclusions of the presentations included that correct food choices may impact on the risk of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, that food processing may have an influence on health, by either reducing or increasing risks, and that research regarding novel compounds is important, which may have preventive but also detrimental effects on health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Special Issue contains articles on applications of various new approach methodologies (NAMs) in the field of toxicology and risk assessment. These NAMs include in vitro high-throughput screening, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, network toxicology analysis, molecular docking simulation, omics, machine learning, deep learning, and "template-and-anchor" multiscale computational modeling. These in vitro and in silico approaches complement each other and can be integrated together to support different applications of toxicology, including food safety assessment, dietary exposure assessment, chemical toxicity potency screening and ranking, chemical toxicity prediction, chemical toxicokinetic simulation, and to investigate the potential mechanisms of toxicities, as introduced further in selected articles in this Special Issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Acrylamide (AA) is the potential carcinogen, which can induce multiple toxic effects in laboratory animals and humans. So far, increasing attention have been paid to toxical mechanism and intervention measures of AA, however, these details and methods are still obscure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to be involved in toxical functional mechanisms induced by chemicals in vivo or vitro. To explore novel target and mechanism of AA toxicity, a more detailed miRNA expression profiling study is needed. In this study, we established the short‐term high‐dose model of rats with the treatment of 35 mg/kg·b.w./day AA for 17 days, analyzed the miRNAs expression profiling in AA and control groups, and discovered the altered miRNA profiles in 11 tissues with AA treatment. Interestingly enough, the expression of miR‐27a‐5p were significantly up‐regulated in AA group, especially in bladder and hepar. Furthermore, we found miR‐27a‐5p increased in 11 tissues of long‐term low‐dose AA‐treated rats (3.5 mg/kg·b.w./day for 68 days). Therefore, these results revealed that AA changed miRNAs profiles in multiple tissues of SD rats for the first time and suggested that miR‐27a‐5p could be used as the target biomarker for the detection and interference of AA toxicity.

Copyright of Revista de Toxicología is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recently, the research on intelligent packaging is gaining momentum, primarily being driven by consumer preferences to food safety and reducing the resource waste. Freshness indicator is a kind of simple and efficient intelligent packaging technology, which can directly and scientifically indicate the freshness of food without complex operation. Freshness indicator shows great potential in the food supply chain. As an innovative food packaging method, freshness indicator can effectively monitor food freshness in real time without damaging food and packaging. The objective of this review is to provide relevant information on freshness indicators, such as release of food freshness indicators (carbon dioxide volatile salt-nitrogen sulfides, etc.), types (chemical chromogenic formulation, data carrier indicator, natural color formulation), safety assessment methods (toxicological assessment, exposure assessment), barriers and trends. The potential of freshness indicators in the detection of perishable food freshness was emphasized. The applications of some freshness indicator products in food and the research demands of safety were also discussed. • Recent advances in food intelligent packaging with freshness indicator are reviewed. • The existing limitations and trends of freshness indicators are comprehensively discussed. • Safety assessment methods for freshness indicators are briefly summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the conference session summarized in this article was to bring together international experts on food toxicology and food safety and share the current scientific knowledge on these topics. The presentations covered a wide range of interdisciplinary issues, including (i) the impact of diet on body weight and health outcomes including results from animal models of carcinogenesis, (ii) methods for microbial oil extraction, (iii) food processing and its impact on food safety and health, (iv) novel compounds to avoid mycotoxin contamination of agricultural products, and (v) the safety of cannabidiol in food supplements based on Cannabis sativa extracts. Some of the conclusions of the presentations included that correct food choices may impact on the risk of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, that food processing may have an influence on health, by either reducing or increasing risks, and that research regarding novel compounds is important, which may have preventive but also detrimental effects on health.

This article discusses how Kenyan farmers engage with potentially toxigenic mould growing on the maize they produce, buy, process, consume and feed their animals. Aflatoxins, a group of mycotoxins produced by strains of Aspergillus flavus, can severely harm the livers of humans and animals, causing cancer, liver failure and death. Detection of the invisible, tasteless, and odourless toxins is only possible through expensive scientific testing, largely absent in rural Kenya. Yet local conceptions of aflatoxin focus on the visible mould in everyday food production and consumption practices. This includes constant inspection and separating mouldy kernels and grains during drying and storing to prevent the potentially present mould from spreading and to ensure food safety. This article investigates how practices like separating grains from maize kernels and inspecting the dried maize before grinding show how food is handled under constant, yet flawed, engagement with potential toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The special issue "New Insight into Mycotoxins and Bacterial Toxins: Toxicity Assessment, Molecular Mechanism and Food Safety" in Food and Chemical Toxicology contains 19 articles on current hot topics in mycotoxins and bacterial toxins. Dietary exposure to mycotoxins and risk assessments are reported in this issue. Molecular mechanisms of multiple mycotoxins and emerging mechanisms of toxicity are especially concerned by researchers. Moreover, mycotoxin-detoxifying substances and antimicrobial agents are also fully investigated in the context. This special issue will help to further understand the mycotoxins and bacterial toxins, casting new light for the control of food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food can be health-giving. A global transition towards plant-based diets may equally help curb carbon emissions, slow land-system change and conserve finite resources. Yet, projected benefits of such ‘planetary health’ diets imperfectly capture the environmental or societal health outcomes tied to food production. Here, we examine pesticide-related hazards of fruit and vegetable consumption, and list proven management alternatives per commodity, geography and chemical compound. Across countries, pesticide use in these alleged healthful foods is extensive with up to 97% food items containing residues and up to 42% posing dietary risks to consumers. Multiple residues are present in 70–92% of US- and China-grown stone fruit while 58% US cauliflower is tainted with neonicotinoid insecticides. Science-based alternatives and decision-support frameworks can help food producers reduce risks and potential harm by deliberately abstaining from pesticide use. As such, opportunities abound to advance ‘win-win’ diets that simultaneously nurture human health and conserve global biodiversity.

Peru has a commodities‐based economy where agriculture plays an essential role in the nation's development. Among agricultural products, fruits and vegetables are foundational to Peruvian culture and a healthy and nutritious diet. Produce is also the primary income source for thousands of small‐scale farmers and producers throughout the country. Peru has significant potential to export agricultural and value‐added products. Nevertheless, the Peruvian food chain has weak food safety and quality standards, limiting access to international markets. The inherent lack of food safety surveillance and management systems negatively affects public health. In the past decade, fresh and raw produce has been associated with several foodborne outbreaks worldwide, resulting in significant health and economic losses. This alarming situation for public health officials and regulators has called for the strengthening of produce safety standards and food safety risk management for safer food and to reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses. This review summarizes the current status of produce safety in Peru and explores opportunities (e.g., policy, university capacity development) toward a safer food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to 1985 the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated global food crop contamination with mycotoxins to be 25%. The origin of this statement is largely unknown. To assess the rationale for it, the relevant literature was reviewed and data of around 500,000 analyses from the European Food Safety Authority and large global survey for aflatoxins, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, zearalenone and ochratoxin A in cereals and nuts were examined. Using different thresholds, i.e. limit of detection, the lower and upper regulatory limits of European Union (EU) legislation and Codex Alimentarius standards, the mycotoxin occurrence was estimated. Impact of different aspects on uncertainty of the occurrence estimates presented in literature and related to our results are critically discussed. Current mycotoxin occurrence above the EU and Codex limits appears to confirm the FAO 25% estimate, while this figure greatly underestimates the occurrence above the detectable levels (up to 60-80%). The high occurrence is likely explained by a combination of the improved sensitivity of analytical methods and impact of climate change. It is of immense importance that the detectable levels are not overlooked as through diets, humans are exposed to mycotoxin mixtures which can induce combined adverse health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial toxins are food safety hazards causing about 10% of all reported foodborne outbreaks in Europe. Pertinent to Gram‐positive pathogens, the most relevant toxins are emetic toxin and diarrheal enterotoxins of Bacillus cereus, neurotoxins of Clostridium botulinum, enterotoxin of Clostridium perfringens, and a family of enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus and some other staphylococci. These toxins are the most important virulence factors of respective foodborne pathogens and a primary cause of the related foodborne diseases. They are proteins or peptides that differ from each other in their size, structure, toxicity, toxicological end points, solubility, and stability, types of food matrix to which they are mostly related to. These differences influence the characteristics of required detection methods. Therefore, detection of these toxins in food samples, or detection of toxin production capacity in the bacterial isolate, remains one of the cornerstones of microbial food analysis and an essential tool in understanding the relevant properties of these toxins. Advanced research has led into new insights of the incidence of toxins, mechanisms of their production, their physicochemical properties, and their toxicological mode of action and dose‐response profile. This review focuses on biological, immunological, mass spectrometry, and molecular assays as the most commonly used detection and quantification methods for toxins of B. cereus, C. botulinum, C. perfringens, and S. aureus. Gathered and analyzed information provides a comprehensive blueprint of the existing knowledge on the principles of these assays, their application in food safety, limits of detection and quantification, matrices in which they are applicable, and type of information they provide to the user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of RNA interference (RNAi) enables the silencing of target genes in plants or plant-dwelling organisms, through the production of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) resulting in altered plant characteristics. Expression of properly synthesized dsRNAs in plants can lead to improved crop quality characteristics or exploit new mechanisms with activity against plant pests and pathogens. Genetically modified (GM) crops exhibiting resistance to viruses or insects via expression of dsRNA have received authorization for cultivation outside Europe. Some products derived from RNAi plants have received a favourable opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for import and processing in the European Union (EU). The authorization process in the EU requires applicants to produce a risk assessment considering food/feed and environmental safety aspects of living organisms or their derived food and feed products. The present paper discusses the main aspects of the safety assessment (comparative assessment, molecular characterization, toxicological assessment, nutritional assessment, gene transfer, interaction with target and non-target organisms) for GM plants expressing dsRNA, according to the guidelines of EFSA. Food/feed safety assessment of products from RNAi plants is expected to be simplified, in the light of the consideration that no novel proteins are produced. Therefore, some of the data requirements for risk assessment do not apply to these cases, and the comparative compositional analysis becomes the main source of evidence for food/feed safety of RNAi plants. During environmental risk assessment, the analysis of dsRNA expression levels of the GM trait, and the data concerning the observable effects on non-target organisms (NTO) will provide the necessary evidence for ensuring safety of species exposed to RNAi plants. Bioinformatics may provide support to risk assessment by selecting target gene sequences with low similarity to the genome of NTOs possibly exposed to dsRNA. The analysis of these topics in risk assessment indicates that the science-based regulatory process in Europe is considered to be applicable to GM RNAi plants, therefore the evaluation of their safety can be effectively conducted without further modifications. Outcomes from the present paper offer suggestions for consideration in future updates of the EFSA Guidance documents on risk assessment of GM organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Toxicología is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Natural processes and human activities have caused widespread background contamination with non-essential toxic elements. The uptake and accumulation of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and lead (Pb) by crop plants results in chronic dietary exposure and is associated with various health risks. Current human intake levels are close to what is provisionally regarded as safe. This has recently triggered legislative actions to introduce or lower limits for toxic elements in food. Arguably, the most effective way to reduce the risk of slow poisoning is the breeding of crops with much lower accumulation of contaminants. The past years have seen tremendous progress in elucidating molecular mechanisms of toxic element transport. This was achieved in the model systems Arabidopsis thaliana and, most importantly, rice, the major source of exposure to As and Cd for a large fraction of the global population. Many components of entry and sequestration pathways have been identified. This knowledge can now be applied to engineer crops with reduced toxic element accumulation especially in edible organs. Most obvious in the case of Cd, it appears likely that subtle genetic intervention has the potential to reduce human exposure to non-essential toxic elements almost immediately. This review outlines the risks and discusses our current state of knowledge with emphasis on transgenic and gene editing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicity studies in mammals continue to be the most appropriate model for predicting risk in humans, but they tend to be expensive and time-consuming. In the aftermath of the genetic sequencing of zebrafish (Danio rerio), this species is highly genetically homologous to humans. The use of the zebrafish model to assess food toxicity is already a reality as it is capable of biological processes difficult to reproduce in vitro. Studies of complex mechanisms of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion as well as cellular and tissue interactions are of great information value resulting in time, space and cost savings, when compared to studies with rodents. This review addresses the relevance of zebrafish model in food safety research, both in the use of ingredients and approved and generally recognized as safe food additives as well as for establishing levels of safe food contaminant residues present in the environment. Toxicological screening using the zebrafish model integrate the evaluation of teratogenicity, cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine toxicity, reproductive and behavioral aspects. These are important endpoints for food safety assessment, which take substantially less time than in mammalian tests. Furthermore, it serves well as a screening test follow-up for validating favorable results in murine models, hence accelerating the risk assessment process of products submitted for approval and registration, prioritizing safe compounds and reducing unnecessary costs in subsequent mammalian studies. In conclusion, the zebrafish model can be a useful tool for food safety tests; however, additional studies are needed to further validate this model for registration of new food ingredients and additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereal and cereal-based products are used as an important sources of energy and minerals as well as vitamins in all of the world. However, their contamination with mycotoxins reserved huge concerns due to adverse effects of mycotoxin on human health. The present research was undertaken to evaluate published studies regarding the identification of mycotoxins zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), and total aflatoxin (TAF) in the cereal-based products between 1 January 1983 and 25 December 2017. In this regard, 66 out of 2817 screened studies were used in the conducted systematic review. The lowest and highest number of published reports was associated with DON and TAF in some of the cereal-based products, respectively. Among the countries, Germany was ranked as the first in establishing investigations. Moreover, the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) was categorized as the most implemented technique for mycotoxin detection. The rank order of products cereal-based food based on number of studies was cereal grains > cornflake > bread > breakfast > flour > infant product > pasta > other products. The results of this study not only summarized the most frequently mycotoxin detection technique but also may provide a roadmap for future research regarding the mycotoxins detection analysis. Image 1 • 66 articles were included in the identification of mycotoxins in cereal based foods study. • The rank order of mycotoxins based on studies was DON > ZEN > OTA > TAF. • Highest number of study was performed on the cereal grain. • The highest used methods for detection mycotoxins was LC-ESI/MS. • The highest number of studies was related to Germany (n = 32). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, many safety assessments of genetically modified (GM) food have been done, but there was still considerable skepticism about the safety of genetic modified foods because no study could be designed to discover all of the potential effects. Since behavioral endpoints could provide one of the most sensitive strategies to reveal subtle functional deficits. In the present study, behavioral profiles in mice fed with milk derived from human lactoferrin gene-modified cows were investigated to enrich the toxicological data of GM food. Conventional milk and GM milk were added to diets at a proportion of 7.5%, 15% and 30%(w/w). After the mice consuming different diets for 30 days, a battery of behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate motor, sensory and cognitive functions. No significant differences were observed in spontaneous activity, grip strength and nociception between the treatment groups. And animals of different groups exhibited similar performance in rotarod, dark box, step-down and MORRIS water maze task. The study suggested that mice fed with conventional milk or human lactoferrin gene-modified milk had similar motor, sensory and cognitive functions. • Behavioral profile was detected on mice consuming conventional or transgenic milk. • Mice fed with human lactoferrin gene-modified milk showed no abnormal behaviour. • Supply new data for food safety evaluation of genetically modified animal food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our work mainly studied the elimination of zearalenone (ZEN) from corn flour by ozone treatment. We found four degradation products, after separation and identification by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS, named as Compound 1 (m/z 335.18), Compound 2 (m/z 351.19), Compound 3 (m/z 321.19) and Compound 4 (m/z 367.18). Then, one main transformation pathway was predicted on the basis of molecular weight and the reaction mechanism of ozone. We had also detected two of the degradation products by our modified UPLC-MS/MS method in real samples—contaminated corn flour. We screened the toxicity of the parent ZEN compound as well as the ozone induced decomposition products with BALB/c mice to evaluate the safety of our method in vivo. Therefore, aqueous ozone was demonstrated to effectively degrade ZEN and chemical structure alternations of ZEN after ozone treatment were predicted in both pure ZEN and real contaminated-corn flour samples. Considering the presence of the by-products formed, differences in the toxic effects on mice exposed to ZEN before and after the ozone treatment emphasise the significance of further study on the quality and toxicity of real food samples after ozone treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Food safety is vital in everyday life. Food toxins are small peptides or proteins that can cause disease by disrupting biological macromolecules such as enzymes or cellular receptors. Toxins are introduced either externally or from internal, spoilage-related pathogens. To keep these unsafe foods off the market, detection techniques for various toxins have been devised. Although many techniques serve this purpose well, challenges remain regarding sensitivity, specificity, and cost, especially for trace amounts of highly lethal proteinaceous toxins. Scope and approach Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a widely used nanotechnology for imaging and force measurement in biophysics and biology. Its high sensitivity in probing specific, single-molecule binding between molecules is applicable to food toxin detection. In this review, after a summary of the development of AFM, different detection operation modes are introduced along with examples of their applications. Key findings and conclusions Cantilever sensing and recognition imaging are found to be the appropriate AFM techniques for detection. Their shared functionalization approaches are outlined for two categories of surfaces: silicon and gold. Recent progress in AFM biosensors and their applications to food toxin detection are discussed. Single-molecule sensitivity and ease of designing sensing schemes make these AFM techniques excellent candidates for real-world application. Existing challenges in designing sensing molecules and preventing the food matrix from confounding signals are not only applicable to AFM techniques but to most current biosensors. Through the collaboration among materials science, chemistry, and molecular biology, solving these issues will promote significant advancement in AFM-based food toxin detection. Graphical abstract Besides different detection operation modes of AFM, a recognition element can be coupled to an AFM to produce an instrument that is capable of providing extraordinarily high sensitivity, high selectivity, and a cost-effective path toward recognizing these contaminants and securing the safety of the food supply. Image 1 Highlights • Accurate, trace detection of food toxins is critical for securing the food supply. • AFM's biosensing capabilities can sensitively and reliably detect food toxins. • Chemical functionalization of the AFM probe tip is straight-forward and flexible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh foods occupy an important position in the human diet. A growing number of consumers are attracted by fresh foods due to their high nutritional value, healthy image, and appealing taste. Electronic tongue based on the concept of global selectivity is a sensor technology that has developed rapidly since last century (1998). Compared with human panelists, it has the advantages of measuring toxic substances, conducting objective analysis and having no detection fatigue. In this paper, the principle, types, and characteristics of electronic tongue are described. The application of electronic tongue to measure sensory and safety index is discussed. Finally, the development of miniaturization of electronic tongues is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first report of lathyrism in 1926, the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) at Hyderabad, India, has made tremendous contributions in the field of food toxins/food safety for the benefit of the people. The present article highlights the Institute’s work on various food toxins/foodborne diseases since its inception and discusses the important contributions made in the context of public health protection that formed the basis for several national policies on their prevention and control. The investigations on food toxins, in the initial decades, were limited to the description of lathyrism and its endemicity. Subsequently, the horizon was broadened to include the problem of mycotoxins and mycotoxicosis, which had received global attention and variety of other disease outbreaks investigations leading to total food safety transition in the forthcoming decades. Important contributions in epidemiological investigations, reproduction of the disease in experimental animals, surveillance and monitoring studies, development of methods for detection of food toxins and contaminants, evolving strategies for prevention and control and developing the concept of risk assessment and risk management for addressing food safety issues in the country are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Packaging is an indispensable component of the food manufacturing and food supply process. This scientific workshop was convened to bring together scientists from government, academia, and industry to discuss the state of the science regarding the safety of food packaging, prompted by rapidly advancing research to improve food packaging that continues to impact packaging technology, toxicology, exposure, risk assessment, and sustainability. The opening session focused on scientific challenges in the safety assessment of food packaging materials. Experts discussed migration of contaminant residues from food packaging, presented emerging analytical methods for safety evaluation, and highlighted the use of improved exposure assessment models and new packaging technologies. The workshop then focused on recycled packaging and sustainability. Experts also discussed application of recycled materials in food packaging, recycling processes, identification of contaminant residues from recycled packaging, and challenges in safety assessment of recycled materials. The workshop concluded with panel discussions that highlighted the challenges and research gaps in food packaging. Overall, there is a need to better understand and define "contaminants in food packaging" for developing appropriate testing methods needed to establish the significance of the migration levels of these contaminants and conduct appropriate safety assessments in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract New Nordic Food has within the last decade received much media coverage with chefs of top restaurants using wild plants for foods. As part of a control campaign, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration visited 150 restaurants and local food producers from May-October 2016 and investigated their use of plants picked from the wild, cultivated in private gardens or market gardens. Among the species used were the flowers from 23 plants. Here we present a safety evaluation of these flowers based on published phytochemical investigations and toxicological data in humans, farm animals, pets, or experimental animals. Of the 23 flowers reviewed, nine contained compounds with toxic or potentially toxic effects if eaten, two contained unidentified toxic compound(s), and four were flowers from plants with potentially toxic compounds present in other plant parts or related species. Many of the flowers may be considered novel, since a use to a significant degree in Europe prior to 15 May 1997 before Regulation (EC) 258/97 on novel food and novel food ingredients came into force could not be established. In conclusion, this review illuminates a striking lack of chemical and toxicological data of many of the proposed wild or cultivated flowers for food use. Highlights • Review of wild flowers used at restaurants shows a striking lack of safety data. • 13 plants contained potential toxic compounds in the flowers or other plant parts. • Limited historical data on food use from ethnobotanical surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of chemicals of toxicological concern in food is commonly needed for many purposes, which include (in part) food safety, regulatory enforcement, risk assessment, international food trade, label claims, environmental protection, industry needs, academic research, and consumer confidence. Chemicals of current concern include a variety of toxins, pesticides, veterinary drugs, growth promoters, environmental contaminants, toxic metals, allergens, endocrine disruptors, genetically modified organisms, melamine, acrylamide, furans, nitrosamines, food additives, packaging components, and miscellaneous other chemicals. In light of past crises, the potential harm from known or unknown chemicals not currently monitored are a source of additional concern by the food industry, regulators, scientists, and consumers. As global food trade has expanded and detection techniques have improved, chemical contaminant analysis of foods has also increased in importance and activity. This critical review article is aimed to highlight current trends in the literature, including neglected research needs, on the analysis of chemicals of toxicological concern in foods.Graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is no scientific consensus regarding the safety of the Yellow Knight mushroom Tricholoma equestre (L.) P.Kumm. Following reports of cases of intoxication involving effects such as rhabdomyolysis, and supportive observations from in vivo experimental models, T. equestre is considered as a poisonous mushroom in some countries while in others it is still widely collected from the wild and consumed every year. In this paper, we review all the available information on T. equestre including its morphological and molecular characterization, nutritional value, levels of contaminants observed in fruiting bodies, the possibility of mistake with species that are morphologically similar, and the in vivo data on safety and cases of human intoxication. Based on available data, it is suggested that T. equestre cannot be considered as a toxic species and does not appear to exhibit any greater health threat than other mushroom species currently considered as edible. More care should be taken when reporting cases of human poisoning to fully identify T. equestre as the causative agent and to exclude a number of interfering factors. Specific guidelines for reporting future cases of poisoning with T. equestre are outlined in this paper. Any future research involving T. equestre should present the results of molecular phylogenetic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Soybean is an important food resource for the eastern countries and herbicide-tolerant genetically modified soybeans (GMS) were widely developed to deal with weeds problems. Unprocessed soybean flour instead of dehulled and defatted soybean meal was used to reflect the safety of soybean food in whole. Rats were given formulated diets containing DP-356Ø43 or non-GM soybean JACK at an incorporation rate of 7.5%, 15%, or 30% (w/w), respectively for 90 days. Targeted traditional toxicological response variables were measured to reflect the holistic health of animals. No treatment-related adverse or toxic effects were observed based on an examination of the daily clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, and organ weight or based on gross and histopathological examination. The results demonstrate that the soybean DP-356Ø43 is as safe for consumption as conventional soybean JACK. In the current study, the effect of a herbicide-tolerant GMS DP-356043 on identified intestinal microbiota was evaluated in a rodent feeding study compared with its conventional control JACK. Feces samples from rats consuming different diets were collected before the start of the experiment (time 0) and at monthly intervals (at the end of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd months) over the course of 90 days. Six types of bacterias shared by humans and rats were detected with Q-PCR. The results of QPCR indicated that the GMS 356Ø43 had a comparable effect on the abundance of Bifidobacterium group, Clostridium perfringens subgroup, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides–Prevotella group as the non-GMS JACK. Highlights • Event DP-356Ø43 is a GM soybean tolerance to glyphosate and acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. • A 90-day subchronic study of GM soybean was conducted. • No adverse effects were observed in the rats that consumed GM soybean DP-356Ø43. • GM soybean DP-356Ø43 is as safe as conventional non-GM soybean. • The GMS 356Ø43 had a comparable effect on the intestinal microbiota as the non-GMS JACK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to highlight the importance of testing in a realistic way, metallic nanoparticles-based products, used in the food sector in order to provide representative data for a realistic and accurate risk assessment. To this end we give a brief overview of the current use and applications of metallic nanoparticles in the food industry, how the toxicological evaluations of nanoparticles in food should be performed and how nanoparticles-based products are regulated worldwide.This brief overview work provides a picture of the latest issues on the safety evaluation of metallic nanoparticles in the food sector and identifies also some major points that are important to take into consideration for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology offers very interesting perspectives for the food industry. Due to the benefits offered by the physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials, the use of these materials is increasing in the food industry. There is concern about the safety of nanomaterials, especially because of the limited knowledge about the effects of these materials on human health. A review of nanotechnology and its main applications in the food industry is carried out, including the different types of nanomaterials available, their toxicity, the risk assessments performed and the actual legal situation in Europe. It is concluded that, in order to maintain a high level of food safety and protect the health of consumers and environment, the potential risks of these new materials need to be properly evaluated and managed. Though, the research should be directed to develop risk assessment of the application of nanomaterials in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provides a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of gellan gum (E 418) as a food additive. Following the conceptual framework for the risk assessment of certain food additives re‐evaluated under Commission Regulation (EU) No 257/2010, the Panel considered that adequate exposure and toxicity data were available. Based on the reported use levels, a refined exposure of up to 72.4 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day in toddlers at the 95th percentile was estimated. Gellan gum is unlikely to be absorbed intact and would not be fermented by human intestinal microbiota. There is no concern with respect to carcinogenicity and genotoxicity. No adverse effects were reported in chronic studies at the highest doses tested in mice and rats (3,627 and 1,460 mg gellan gum/kg bw per day, respectively). Repeated oral intake up to 200 mg/kg bw per day for 3 weeks had no adverse effects in humans. The Panel concluded that there is no need for a numerical acceptable daily intake (ADI) for gellan gum (E 418), and that there is no safety concern at the refined exposure assessment for the reported uses and use levels of gellan gum (E 418) as a food additive. The Panel recommended to better define the specifications of gellan gum including the absence of viable cells of the microbial source and the presence of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), protein and residual bacterial enzymatic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food enzyme considered is a maltogenic amylase (glucan 1,4-α-maltohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.133) produced with the genetically modified Bacillus subtilis strain NZYM-SM by Novozymes A/S. The food enzyme contains neither the production organism nor recombinant DNA. The maltogenic amylase is intended for use in baking processes and starch processing for glucose syrups production. Based on the maximum use levels recommended for the food processes and individual consumption data from the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database, dietary exposure to the food enzyme--Total Organic Solids (TOS) was estimated to be up to 0.168 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. The food enzyme did not induce gene mutations in bacteria or chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes. The subchronic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in rodents. A no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was derived (320 mg TOS/kg bw per day), which, compared with the dietary exposure, results in a sufficiently high margin of exposure. The allergenicity was evaluated by searching for similarity of the amino acid sequence to those of known allergens. Three matches to occupational respiratory allergens were found, however, the Panel considered that there are no indications for food allergic reactions to the food enzyme. Based on the genetic modifications performed, the manufacturing process, the compositional and biochemical data provided, the dietary exposure assessment, the findings in the toxicological studies and allergenicity assessment, the Panel concluded that the food enzyme maltogenic amylase from Bacillus subtilis strain NZYM-SM does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food enzyme considered in this opinion is an endo-1,4-b-xylanase (4-β-D-xylan xylanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.8) produced from the genetically modified Bacillus subtilis strain LMG S-27588 by the company Puratos N. V. The production strain was not detected in the food enzyme. The endo-1,4-β-xylanase is intended to be used in baking processes. Based on the maximum use levels recommended and individual consumption data from the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database, dietary exposure to the food enzyme--total organic solids (TOS) was estimated to be up to 0.325 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. Genotoxicity tests with the food enzyme indicated no genotoxic concern. The systemic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in rodents. A no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was derived (443 mg TOS/kg bw per day), which, compared with the dietary exposure, results in a sufficiently high margin of exposure. The allergenicity was evaluated by comparing the amino acid sequence to those of known allergens; no match was found. The Panel considered that there are no indications for food allergic reactions to this endo-1,4-&#946-xylanase by dietary exposure. Based on the genetic modifications, the manufacturing process, the compositional and biochemical data, the dietary exposure assessment, the findings in the toxicological studies and allergenicity assessment, the Panel concludes that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use. The Panel noted that recombinant DNA was present in all batches of the food enzyme tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persian bamboo shark ( Chiloscyllium arabicum ) was collected from two sites of the Khozestan province, northern basin of Persian Gulf, with the aim to identify differences in metal concentrations between fishing areas as well as the risk for human health due to consumption of the selected species. We analyzed Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg, Cd and Ni in muscle and liver tissues of specimens from both areas of study using atomic adsorption spectrometry. Statistical elaborations revealed higher bioaccumulation of metals in livers than muscle as well as in the site of worthy of Musa as regards Zn, Pb and Ni than the site of worthy of Darvis, due to the more intensive anthropogenic input. The risk for consumers is low for the most of metals, with the exception of the THQ for Hg, which resulted next to the level of risk with high frequencies of consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts at uniting the analysis of four different classes of contaminants for both liquid and solid tea samples. A total of 32 compounds, classified as pesticides, mycotoxins, process-induced toxicants or packaging contaminants, were carefully chosen for their diversity of structures and physicochemical properties. The proposed method combines a sample treatment strategy coming from metabolomics with liquid chromatography analysis using a silica bonded C18-pentafluorophenyl column coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry. For tea brew, dilute and shoot method provides good quantification (70–120% recoveries and <20% RSD) for more than 80% of compounds. For tea leaves, strong matrix effects are observed, thus, matrix-matched calibration is required to reach good performances, i.e. 63% of compounds quantified and 81% detected at 10 µg/kg. Finally, method performances were evaluated against existing regulations, and it appears that 69% of contaminants are quantified and 91% detected at levels lower than their respective European regulation limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]