European Commission surveillance program on dioxins

The European Food safety authority EFSA assess health risks posed by chemicals in food. Food safety and hygiene processes and following of HACCP rules are critical factors for avoiding the dioxins risk and potential recalls. iComplai helps you by providing data on worldwide incidents and send early warnings on upcoming risks.

European Commission EPA has sent a new notification through RASFF portal about dioxins found in feed material. While for animal feed most notifications come from company’s own check or official controls on the market, this was the first time the notification came as a result of a surveillance program.

Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones.

According to iComplai database, dioxins have been detected in various animal products including:

products where dioxins were detected

Dioxins detected:

Fish & fish products like:

Fishmeal

Cod liver

Fish oil

Dogfish

Eggs:

Organic eggs

Cow’s milk

Key facts on dioxins:

  • Dioxins are called persistent organic pollutants (POPs), meaning they take a long time to break down once they are in the environment.

  • Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones.

  • Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment, and they accumulate in food chains, concentrating mainly in the fatty tissue of animals.

  • More than 90% of typical human exposure is estimated by EPA to be through the intake of animal fats, mainly meat, dairy products, fish, and shellfish.

What does dioxin look like?

Pure dioxin looks like white crystalline needles. In the environment, however, it generally is dispersed and attached to soil and dust particles and is invisible to the eye.

Where does dioxin come from?

Industrial activities: Dioxin is not produced or used commercially in the United States. It is a contaminant formed during the production of some chlorinated organic compounds, including a few herbicides such as Silvex. 

Burning: Combustion processes such as waste incineration (commercial or municipal) or burning fuels (like wood, coal or oil) form dioxins.

Bleaching: Chlorine bleaching of pulp and paper and other industrial processes can create small quantities of dioxins in the environment.

Smoking: Cigarette smoke also contains small amounts of dioxins.

Drinking Water: Dioxin can get into drinking water from:

  • Air emissions from waste incineration and other combustion, with subsequent deposition to lakes and reservoirs

  • Deposition from air to soils that erode into surface waters used for drinking water

  • Discharges into water from chemical factories.

With the increasing focus on environmental pollutants like dioxins, mineral oil and benzo(a)pyrene, food manufacturers have additional areas to monitor.Through iComplai platform users will be notified on emerging chemical contamination risks like dioxins. Contact us today for a free consultation.


References: EPA

Asli Solmaz