[Analysis of notifications on exceeding of the acceptable level of histamine according to the RASFF reports]. / Analiza powiadomien dotyczacych przekroczen dopuszczalnego poziomu histaminy na podstawie raportów RASFF.

The histamine is biogenic amine produced in considerable amounts in fish and fish products contaminated with bacteria. Histamine content in fish should not exceed 200 mg/kg, higher levels can cause poisoning and the concentrations above 1000 mg/kg are toxic and may be dangerous for man. The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifies the exceedances of the permissible level of histamine. In the years 2003-2009 there have been 272 notifications, including 72 alarm and 178 information. High histamine content in tuna exceeding the permissible level up to more than 40-fold (8299 mg/kg), in coryfena (mahi-mahi), more than 17-fold (3490 mg/kg), sardines 9-fold (1820 mg/kg), anchovii (anchovies) and 8-fold (1630 mg/kg) and fish sauce over a 7-fold (1467 mg/kg) was observed.

[Studies on primary aromatic amines (PAAs) migration from multi-layer plastic food packaging by HPLC method]. / Badania migracji pierwszorzedowych amin aromatycznych (PAAs) z wielowarstwowych opakowan zywnosci metoda HPLC.

The aim of this study was to identify of primary aromatic amines (PAAs) and to determine their migration from plastic food packaging. The magnitude of the migration of these substances from plastic food packaging consists a base for the evaluation of their compliance with the requirements of EU legislation and hazard for human health taking into account their migration into food. The unprinted and printed multi-layer plastic packaging (laminates), domestic and imported, were examined in these studies. PAAs migration tests from the laminates into food simulant (3% acetic acid) was performed according to the appropriate procedures recommended in the EU for testing migration from food contact articles under standard conditions reflecting the real use of laminates (10 days, 40 degrees C) and under ,, worst case scenario" conditions (2 h, 70 degrees C). PAAs present in migration solutions were concentrated on SPE columns and then seven PAAs (aniline, 1,3-phenylenediamine, 2, 6-toluenediamine, 2,4-toluenediamine, 4,4'-oxydianiline, 4,4'-methylenedianiline and 3,3 '-dimethylbenzidyne) were identified and determined by previously validated HPLC-DAD method. Depending on the migration conditions the PAAs content was different. When the "worst case scenario" conditions were applied the migration of 4,4 '-methylenedianiline (4,4 '-MDA) ranged from below detection limit (LOD = 0.51 microg/kg) up to 9.86 microg/kg, and aniline was released in the range from below detection limit (LOD = 0,98 microg/kg) up to 7.04 microg/kg. In two laminate samples of eight examined, the sum of PAAs (aniline and 4,4'-MDA) was 13.32 microg/kg and 14.72 microg/kg showing that the permitted limit (10 microg/kg) was exceeded. In the standard conditions, the migration of aniline and 4,4'-MDA was significantly lower Regarding the carcinogenic potential of PAAs, the laminates causing the amines migration above the permitted limit should not be used as food packaging.

[Monitoring of contamination of foodstuffs with elements noxious to human health. Part II. Mineral waters, soft drinks, fruits, nuts, rice, soybeans, fish and seafood]. / Monitoring zanieczyszczenia zywnosci pierwiastkami szkodliwymi dla zdrowia. Czesc II. Wody mineralne, napoje bezalkoholowe, owoce, orzechy, ryz, soja, ryby i owoce morza.

Results of the 5-years cycle (2004-2008) monitoring investigations on food contamination with elements noxious to human health, involving testing of mineral waters and soft drinks (226 samples), fruits (467 samples), rice (234 samples), soybeans (236 samples), nuts and peanuts (237 samples), fish and seafood (237 samples) are discussed. The parties involved in testing were: laboratories of State Sanitary Inspection and the national reference laboratory of the Department of Food and Consumer Articles Research of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene. The reported metals contents did not give rise to health concerns, remaining generally below the levels set forth in food legislation and being comparable with contamination levels reported in other European countries; and for cadmium--often lower. Health hazard assessment was performed taking into account the mean contamination levels obtained and average domestic consumption of these food products groups in Poland. The highest intake expressed as the percentage of provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) was obtained for mercury in fish, which has reached mean 3.2% PTWI. Controlled fish consumption recommendations should be adhered to by prospective mothers, pregnant women, breast-feeding women and young children. Lead and arsenic intake with mineral waters and soft drinks comprises approx. 15% of total intake of these elements with food.

[Occurrence of biogenic amines in ripening cheeses taken from the Warsaw market]. / Wystepowanie amin biogennych w serach dojrzewajacych pochodzacych z rynku warszawskiego.

Biogenic amines occurring in foods, particularly fish products and cheeses, may pose a risk to consumer health, monitoring their levels in foods is still valid. The aim of this study was determination of biogenic amines in ripening cheeses available at retail on the Warsaw market and validation of two methods for the determination of amines: high performance liquid chromatography in reverse phase system (RP-HPLC) and spectrofluorimetric method in 1995 year The parameters validated RP-HPLC method for histamine, tyramine, putrescine and kadaweryne ranged: limit of detection (LOD) of 0.7 mg/ kg to 1.3 mg/kg, the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.4 mg/kg to 2.6 mg/kg, the recovery of 92-111% and spectrofluorimetric method validation parameters of two amines: histamine and tyramine in the range: LOD of 2.4 mg/kg to 3.18 mg/kg, LOQ 4.8 mg/kg to 6.38 mg/kg, recovery 94-106.5%. The results indicate that the main amines occurring in the group studied ripened cheeses were tyramine and putrescine. The sum of all identified amines in the sample did not exceed 264.4 mg/kg.

[Occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) in food products]. / Wystepowanie 3-monochloropropano-1,2-diolu (3-MCPD) w produktach spozywczych.

3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) is a contaminant belongs to a group of chemicals called chloropropanols. 3-MCPD can be formed in foods as result of processing or storage condition. At the beginning 3-MCPD was identified as a contaminant of the acid-hydrolysed vegetable protein, which is produced using hydrochloric acid and high temperature. Studies have shown that 3-MCPD is carcinogenic for rats, however genotoxic adverse effect was not observed in vivo. The purpose of this studies was determination of 3-MCPD amounts in retail food products and comparison with the EC legislative limit. 99 samples of foodstuffs was tested: soya sauce, hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP), sugar, instant soups, stock cubes, bakery products, chips and edible fats. 3-MCPD was detected at levels below 10 microg/kg in 15% of the tested samples, and above 10 microg/kg in 63%. 3-MCPD was not occurred in 22% of the tested samples. The samples were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

[Monitoring programme of T-2 and HT-2 toxins level in cereal products]. / Badania monitoringowe w zakresie oznaczania poziomu toksyn T-2 i HT-2 w przetworach zbozowych.

In framework of the national monitoring program in Poland HPLC method for determination of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in cereal products was developed, validated and accredited. Simply, one-step extraction and HPLC MS/MS ESI+ method was used for determination both toxins. Performance of method (recovery, precision and uncertainty of results) is in line with Commission Regulation No 401/2006. Limit of detection for T-2 and HT-2 toxins is 3 ad 4 microg/kg, respectively. Samples were taken by sanitary inspection from all region of country. 107 samples cereal products (mainly from oats) were tested. T-2 and HT-2 toxins were detected in 43% samples, mean level in oats products was 22.5 microg/kg (maximum level 109 microg/kg in oat flakes), in other samples (wheat and barley flakes, grouts, flours) - 7.0 microg/kg. Intake of T-2/HT-2 toxin by the consumer in Poland is much lower than the TDI.

[High pressure processing of spices in atmosphere of helium for decrease of microbiological contamination]. / Zastosowanie wysokiego cisnienia w atmosferze helu do obnizenia zanieczyszczenia mikrobiologicznego przypraw ziolowych.

The aim of the study was to investigate the microbiological decontamination of coriander and caraway when HPP technology was applied in elevated temperature in helium atmosphere. The HPP and heat treatment was conducted for 30 minutes at 800 and 1 000 MPa and temperature range was 60 - 121 degrees C. Contamination with aerobic mesophilic bacteria was decreased by about 2 logarithmic cycles. Total elimination of coliform and yeast and moulds was observed. The efficacy of HPP treatment under helium atmosphere depended on the content of the water in tested samples. It can be concluded that high pressure treatment under atmosphere of helium, combination of proper high pressure and time improved the microbiological quality of spices.

[Monitoring of contamination of foodstuffs with elements noxious to human health. Part I. Wheat cereal products, vegetable products, confectionery and products for infants and children (2004 year)]. / Monitoring zanieczyszczenia zywnosci pierwiastkami szkodliwymi dla zdrowia. Czesc I. Produkty zbozowe pszenne, warzywne, cukiernicze oraz produkty dla niemowlat i dzieci (rok 2004).

The testing of products of wheat cereal (310 samples), vegetable (418 samples), confectionery (439 samples) and 952 samples of products for infants and children has initiated the 5-years cycle of monitoring investigations on food contamination with elements noxious to human health planned to perform in 2004-2008. The parties involved in testing were: laboratories of State Sanitary Inspection collecting samples on all over the territory of Poland, both from retail market (of domestic origin as well as imported) and directly from producers; the national reference laboratory of the Department of Food and Consumer Articles Research of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene responsible for elaboration of official food control and monitoring plans to be approved by Chief Sanitary Inspectorate and for the substantive supervising of tests performance. The reported metals contents were not of health concern and generally below the levels set forth in food legislation. The health hazard assessment was performed taking into account the mean contamination obtained and average domestic consumption of these food products groups in Poland. The highest intake expressed as the percentage of provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) was obtained for cadmium, which has reached 9.4% PTWI for cereal based products and 4.7% PTWI for vegetables. The cadmium content in chocolate and derived products due to contamination of cocoa beans and the levels of this element in products for infants and children originated from contamination of cereal and soybeans row materials should not be ignored. The decrease of lead contamination comparing to those reported in 1990 studies was observed.

Ochratoxin a in maternal and foetal blood and in maternal milk.

Ochratoxin A (OA) levels were measured in blood serum of mothers foetuses and in mothers' milk. The mean concentration of OA in maternal serum was 1.14 ng/ml and in umbilical cord blood serum it was 1.96 ng/ml. The mean ratio of OA concentrations in maternal and foetal blood serum was 1.96. In maternal milk OA was found in 5 out of 13 studied samples. The mean intake of OA with mother's milk was not exceeding the tolerable daily intake for adults, nevertheless it was near 60% of TDI. The OA concentration ratio in maternal blood serum versus that in milk was 0.0058 on average. These results confirm the correlation between OA concentration maternal and foetal blood serum, and between OA concentration in maternal serum and milk.

[Expected change of direction in Polish law regarding cosmetics]. / Przewidywany kierunek zmian w polskim ustawodawstwie kosmetycznym.

In connection with adaptation of Polish law to UE regulations, new Polish Act on cosmetics was published. There were also prepared regulations concerning: lists the substances forbidden to be used in cosmetics, permitted to be used in cosmetics only with restrictions, allowed colouring agents, preservatives and UV filters, rules of non-inclusion of one or more ingredients on the list used for the labelling, establishing National System for Informing about Cosmetics and methods of analysis necessary for checking the composition of cosmetic products. Publication in Official Journal of the European Union L. 66/26 Directive 2003/15/EC shows direction necessary changes in Polish Act on cosmetics.

[European Union legislation related to patulin]. / Nowe przepisy Unii Europejskiej w zakresie patuliny.

In the following review, European Union legislation concerning maximum level of patulin in foodstuffs was reported. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1425/2003 of 11 August 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 466/2001, Commission Directive 2003/78/EC of 11 August 2003 laying down the sampling methods and the methods of analysis for the official control of the levels of patulin in foodstuffs and Commission Recommendation of 11 August 2003 on the prevention and reduction of patulin contamination in apple juice and apple juice ingredients in other beverages as regards patulin was reported.