This paper presents results of heavy metals determination in infant foods available in Poland during a monitoring programme in 2009-13. This study investigated levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in infant formulae and other infant foods intended for consumption during the first 6 to 12 months of life, and an intake of heavy metals was assessed. Food consumption data based on the artificial feeding scheme of infants established by the Mother and Child Institute in Poland were taken into account to estimate dietary exposure. The reported levels of elements in infant foods are comparable with contamination of such products in other countries. The mean values for lead do not exceed 0.013 mg/kg (90 th percentile, 0.028 mg/kg). Lead levels in infant formulae (as sold, mainly powder) did not exceed 0.010 mg/kg, while mean contamination was 0.005 mg/kg. The highest mean cadmium level of 0.010 mg/kg was reported in vegetable meal (90 th percentile, 0.017 mg/kg); in infant formulae (undiluted) milk-based it was below 0.003 mg/kg, and for soya-based it was 0.009 mg/kg. Arsenic and mercury contents -highest in fish-based infant foods -did not exceed 0.18 mg/kg and 0.013 mg/kg, respectively. In rice products for infants arsenic did not exceed 0.14 mg/kg. The estimated mean lead exposure was from 0.09 μg/kg b.w. per day for 6-month-old infants to 0.53 μg/kg b.w. per day for 1-year-old children, which was approximately 17% and equal to the respective Benchmark Dose Lower Confidence Limit (BMDL 01 ) established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) at 0.50 μg/kg b.w. per day. Mean exposure to cadmium ranges from 0.02 to 0.4 μg/kg b.w. per day, and for 12-month-old infants can slightly exceed the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) value established by EFSA. Dietary cadmium intake represents 2.5-47% of the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) value established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee of Food Additives (JECFA). Intake of arsenic and mercury was below respective reference value. Calculated mean dietary exposure to arsenic for children under 1 year old was between 0.11 and 0.99 μg/kg b.w. per day (4-33% BMDL 0.5 value), and to methylmercury 0.01-0.08 μg/kg b.w. per day (7-41% of the TWI value for methylmercury).

A total of 1195 samples of industry cereals, plant derived raw materials and foods including 92 samples of Red Yeast Rice food supplements (RYR), available on the European market were analysed for the presence of the mycotoxin citrinin (CIT). The samples, of which 13% came from organic production, were collected from industrial premises and retail stores, between September 2015 and November 2016, in eight European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden). These samples comprised 390 industry cereals (wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice), 510 cereal-based products from retail (flour, rice retail, bread and bread rolls, pasta (dry), breakfast cereals (flakes & muesli)), 92 RYR and 203 other products (beans, and fruit and vegetable juices). The 92 RYR samples were retrieved from retail stores and internet in Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. Samples were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The methods were subsequently implemented and in-house validated by each participant and were considered fit for purpose. The limits of quantification (LOQ) for the various food groups were: 10 μg/kg for RYR and 1 μg/kg for the rest of matrices. Citrinin was detected at concentrations above the LOQs in 6% of the industry cereals, 3% of the cereal-based products from retail, and in 26% of RYR samples. No citrinin was detected in beans and (fruit and vegetable) juices. RYR food supplements were the most prone samples to contamination with citrinin. Citrinin was detected above the EU legal limit of 2,000 µg/kg in three of the RYR samples. Occurrence data on citrinin in food Disclaimer: The present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as author(s). In accordance with Article 36 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, this task has been carried out exclusively by the author(s) in the context of a grant agreement between the European Food Safety Authority and the author(s). The present document is published complying with the transparency principle to which the Authority is subject. It cannot be considered as an output adopted by the Authority. The European Food Safety Authority reserves its rights, view and position as regards the issues addressed and the conclusions reached in the present document, without prejudice to the rights of the authors. Acknowledgements:The authors acknowledge the support and collaboration of:-Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, for financial support via project WOT-02-001-061 'Method development and mycotoxins surveys'.-Ed Boers and Elena de Vries (RIKILT) for sample preparation and analysis. -Ewa Ledzion, Jolanta Kurpińska-Jaworska and Małgorzata Szczęsna (NIPH-NIH) for sample preparation and analysis and staff of Sanitary-Epidemiological Station for industrial sampling of cereals.Amendment: This external scientific report replaces the original report published on 28 January 2017. With respect to the original external scientific report, editorial corrections were inserted in Tables 14 -18 for e...

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Background. Mycotoxins belong to substances harmful to human health. They are found mainly in cereal products and their preparations. In particular, infants and young children who consume cereal products, including porridge and gruel, are exposed to these substances. Objective. The aim of the study is to assess the exposure of infants and young children in Poland to micotoxins (ochratoxin A. deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fumonisins B1 and B1, T-2 and HT-2 toxins) derived from cereal products intended for infants and children. Material and methods. Samples of products (302) were taken from all over the country in the following three years (2011, 2012 and 2013). HPLC-MS / MS method was used to determine the test compounds. Results. Using the HPLC-MS / MS method, the assessment of population exposure in Poland to mikototoxins (ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fumonisins B1 and B1, T-2 and HT-2 toxins) derived from cereal products (porridge, gruel) intended for infants and small children. Samples (302) were taken from across the country over the next three years. The exposure values obtained in the average exposure scenario range from 0.2 to 3% compared to the reference toxicological parameters. Considering that in the case of infants and young children, the tested products constitute a quantitatively significant part of the balanced diet of these consumers, and the remaining groups of foodstuffs, including vegetable products. fruit and meat and dairy products do not contribute significant amounts of mycotoxins to the diet can be accepted. that the level of contamination of cereal products does not pose a significant risk to the health of consumers. In the case of high exposure, it did not exceed 10% of the reference values for deoxynivalenol and the sum of fumonisins B1 and B2. These values were assessed as not relevant for the exposure of infants and young children. In contrast, in the case of zearalenone, the high level of exposure corresponded to 36% of the value of tolerable daily intake (TDI), and for the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, the value of 48% of tolerable daily intake. In both cases, the contribution of pollutants to the diet was significant, but still remained 2-3 times less than the tolerable daily intake. Given, that cereal products are the main source of these contaminants, it can be estimated that exceeding the TDI value in relation to the total diet of infants and young children is unlikely. Conclusions. The exposure values obtained in the average exposure scenario range from 0.2 to 3% compared to the reference toxicological parameters. In the case of zearalenone, the high level of exposure corresponded to 36% of the TDI value. and for the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, 48% TDI. The contribution of pollutants to the diet in both cases was significant. however, it still remained 2-3 times less than the tolerable daily intake. Considering, that cereal products are the main source of these pollutants can be assessed. that exceeding the TDI value for the total diet of infants and young children is unlikely.

Listeria monocytogenes is a potential hazard for food safety and therefore for public health. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of L. monocytogenes in Polish ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products for retail sale. Among the 184,439 food samples collected within the framework of a national official control and monitoring program, only 0.3% were positive for L. monocytogenes. A significant group of products that did not meet the criteria were RTE meat products. This group accounted for 40% of all noncompliant samples. Seventy L. monocytogenes isolates from these RTE meat products (meat, sausages, and delicatessen products with meat) were examined. The majority of the tested isolates (51%) belonged to serogroup 1/2a-3a followed by 1/2c-3c (21%), 1/2b-3b-7 (14%), and 4ab-4b-4d-4e (13%). Serogroup 4a-4c was not present among the tested isolates. All L. monocytogenes isolates harbored the virulence-associated genes inlA, inlC, inlJ, and lmo2672. The llsX marker was detected in 12 (17%) of the 70 isolates. Ampicillin resistance was the most common resistance phenotype and was identified in 83% of the L. monocytogenes isolates. A low incidence of resistance to amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (6% of isolates) was also detected. All L. monocytogenes isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, tetracycline, and erythromycin. This work provides useful information regarding contamination of RTE meat products with L. monocytogenes, which may have implications for food safety risks. HIGHLIGHTS

A study published in 2007 showed that the intake of six food colours (the so-called 'Southampton colours') may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. The present study set out to assess the exposure of Polish children (3 and 8-9 years old, n = 149) to six of the target colours. Two methods were used to evaluate colour consumption by children: scenario 1 using the maximum permitted levels (MPLs) and actual food consumption data; and scenario 2 using the actual levels in food and actual food consumption data. The data on the actual consumption of food containing the colours was collected using a 7-day questionnaire survey. The results of laboratory analysis of food consumed by children provided data on the actual levels of the colours in food. Consumption of the colours estimated by scenario 1 in any case did not exceed the acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) of the colours in both age groups of children. For more refined colour intake (scenario 2), isolated cases exceeding the ADI were recorded for four colours, but assuming that manufacturers comply with the current legislation on MPL of colours in food, the intake of the colours assessed in scenario 2 should not be a reason for exceeding of ADIs for the target food colours.

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