Ongoing food surveys
The Agency's work to monitor the safety and quality of food includes a programme of surveys. Details of ongoing surveys can be found below.
Brominated organic chemical contaminants in food
This survey (C02085) investigates the levels of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and related compounds such as brominated dioxins and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) in food as a result of their presence in the environment.
Duration: April 2007 to March 2009
Expected reporting date: Spring 2011
Contractor: Fera
Four-year surveillance programme for mycotoxins in food
The first year of the surveillance programme investigated the occurrence of a range of mycotoxins in cereal-based products available to UK consumers.
The second year of the surveillance programme investigated the occurrence of a range of mycotoxins in food available to UK consumers, including:
- Mycotoxins in baby foods (Survey 1)
- Ergot alkaloids in cereals and cereal products (Survey 2)
- Patulin in apple juice and apple products (Survey 3)
The proposed activity for year three is a survey of mycotoxins in ethnic foods. More information can be found in the pdf document at the bottom of the page.
Duration: August 2010 – January 2013
Contractor: Ventress Technical Limited/Premier Analytical Services
Four-year surveillance programme of chemical migrants from food contact materials
This 4-year rolling programme on chemical migrants from food contact materials has reached year 4 with a survey of the migration of ink components from printed packaging materials into foodstuffs. The results from years 1 and 2 on migration of formaldehyde from melamine-ware and PAAs from kitchen utensils have been published, and the publication on aluminium and other metal concentrations in foods is expected shortly.
- Year 1: Migration of formaldehyde and hexamethylenetetramine, expressed as formaldehyde, from melamine-ware (Food Survey Information Sheet (FSIS) 04/08).
- Year 2: Migration of primary aromatic amines from nylon kitchen utensils (FSIS 01/10).
- Year 3: Measurement of aluminium and other metal concentrations in foods packaged in aluminium-containing materials or articles (FSIS in preparation).
- Year 4: Migration of selected ink components from printed packaging materials into foodstuffs (FSIS in preparation).
Duration of the Year 4 survey: November 2010 to late Summer 2011
Contractor: Fera
Marine biotoxins in shellfish (England and Wales)
An ongoing surveillance programme for marine biotoxins and phytoplankton in shellfish production areas in England and Wales.
Survey for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cereals and cereal products, vegetables and vegetable products and traditionally-smoked foods
This survey entailed the collection of 230 samples from across the UK over a six week period. These food types have been identified as susceptible to PAH exposure, and EFSA data suggested that traditionally smoked fish may have been previously under-represented.
Duration: August 2010 to December 2010
Expected reporting date: January 2011
Contractor: Fera
Related links
(pdf 43KB)