Sulfites in food - beware of high consumption
People who eat too many products containing the approved additives sulfur dioxide (E220) or sulfites (E221-228) could face an increased health risk. This was the result of a re-evaluation by EFSA experts.
Testing of chlorates, perchlorates and maleic acid hydrazide at AGROLAB Poland
The Instrumental Analysis Laboratory of AGROLAB Polska has again extended the list of plant protection product residues within the flexible range.
AGROLAB awarded for excellent price-performance ratio
DEUTSCHLAND TEST examined around 19,000 companies and brands from July 2021 to June 2022. 1400 companies received awards.
AGROLAB is one of the companies honoured in the "Laboratory Companies" sector (to be read in Focus 45/22).
Current postings on the European Rapid Alert System (RASFF)
Here you find a retrospective monthly summary of relevant notifications about MRLs exceeded reported in the European Rapid Alert System (RASFF).
Fruit and vegetables: Current residue report from AGROLAB laboratories
Here we present a retrospective monthly summary of remarkable results from the residue analysis in fruit & vegetable performed in our own laboratories.
Alert notices from RASFF concerning food (except for fruit & vegetables - see special section)
In this section we repeated alert notices from the RASFF system of the European commission issued in the previous month, which we thought to be noteworthy and of interest to our clients.
Mepiquat in apple juice
This is the result of an investigation of commercial juices by the German consumer magazine "Ökotest". The active substance was detected in three of the 17 conventionally produced juices.
Vitamin D - just now particularly important
The Working Group on Food Supplements points out - not entirely altruistically, of course - that there is a higher need for vitamin D in the diet in winter.
What is the mislabelling rate in seafood products sold on the Italian market?
A scientific meta-study on recent publications about mislabelling in seafood products sold on the Italian market has recently been presented. Fortunately, we can offer a wide range of tests for the identification of fish species - accredited, of course!
"With whipped cream please" - but without disinfectants.
Some of you may still remember the well-known hit song (“Aber bitte mit Sahne”) by the Austrian-German singer Udo Jürgens. The continuation of the song line, on the other hand, does not originate from him, but is highly relevant.
Because of salmonella in muesli: QA director in court
A QA manager overlooked poor hygiene conditions. Now he is not only out of his job but is facing a lawsuit in the USA. The negligence not only led to the recall of "Honey Smacks" cereals, but also to 130 people falling ill with salmonellosis.
Short notes - Kurz notiert (12/22)
Get curious with informative food industry headlines from all over Europe - in many languages ...
The food notes are about soybeans, surprising findings about pesticides and some more news.
Brazil nut allergen reliably analysed
AGROLAB LUFA in Kiel has introduced a new ELISA test for allergen detection of a possible Brazil nut content in food. Allergen labelling of packaged food is mandatory in the EU.
Analysis of Foreign Matter in Foodstuffs (Filth Test)
The presence of extraneous materials in food products analysed by the "filth test" allows detection and counting of solid impurities. The Hygiene Package of The European Community’s food and feed hygiene legislation, which came into effect across all Member States from 1th January 2006, revises and consolidates legislation in relation to food and feed hygiene.
Current postings on the European Rapid Alert System (RASFF)
Here you find a retrospective monthly summary of relevant notifications about MRLs exceeded reported in the European Rapid Alert System (RASFF) supplemented about remarkable results found in our own laboratories in residue analysis.
Fruit and vegetables: Current residue report from AGROLAB laboratories
Here we present a retrospective monthly summary of remarkable results from the residue analysis in fruit & vegetable performed in our own laboratories.
Alert notices from RASFF concerning food (except for fruit & vegetables - see special section)
In this section we repeated alert notices from the RASFF system of the European commission issued in the previous month, which we thought to be noteworthy and of interest to our clients.
Mercury monitoring programme in fish, crustaceans and molluscs proposed
The EU Commission recommended a monitoring programme for mercury in order to be able to estimate the exposure of the population when eating fish and marine animals. Both wild-caught and aquacultured animals are to be examined.
"Mini-revision" of the maximum levels for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs
The revision extends existing maximum levels to further animal foodstuffs that were not previously listed in the Regulation. The maximum levels for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs for sheep meat are now also applied to goat meat.
Elevated ergot occurrence in rye
The results of the Max-Rubner-Institute (MRI) for Cereal Safety and Quality on the mycotoxin contamination of the 2022 cereal harvest are available. While no major abnormalities were found in the 1500 wheat samples submitted for DON and ZEA, the 680 rye samples look poorer this year compared to last year with regard to ergot contamination.
Short notes - Kurz notiert (Nov 22)
Get curious with informative food industry headlines from all over Europe - in many languages ...
The food notes are about the mercury monitoring 2022, MRL proposals for veterinary drugs and other topics.