Food risk assessment for perfluoroalkyl acids and brominated flame retardants in the French population: results from the second French total diet study.

To determine the exposure of the French population to toxic compounds contaminating the food chain, a total diet study was performed in France between 2007 and 2009. This study was designed to reflect the consumption habits of the French population and covered the most important foods in terms of consumption, selected nutrients and contribution to contamination. Based on French consumption data, the present study reports the dietary exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (16 congeners) and brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, hexabromocyclododecane and polybrominated biphenyls). Comparison of the calculated dietary exposures with the generally accepted health-based guidance values revealed that most compounds do not pose any risk. There are however knowledge gaps for some congeners in these large chemical classes.

Dietary sources and correlates of sodium and potassium intakes in the French general population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the dietary sources of sodium and potassium and to explore the biological, behavioural and socio-demographic factors associated with a high sodium and low potassium diet in a general population. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Cross-sectional dietary survey carried out in 1998 and 1999 in nationally representative samples of adults (n=1474) and children (n=1018). Daily sodium and potassium intakes were estimated using a 7-day food record after exclusion of underreporters. RESULTS: Mean sodium intake was well above, whereas mean potassium intake was largely below the current recommendations in adults and children. The consumption of a high sodium and low potassium diet appeared very early in life and increased up to adulthood, especially in men living in small communities. Despite the fact that sodium and potassium intakes were positively correlated to each other and to total food intake, several food categories showed a sodium/potassium intake ratio well above one (cheeses, cooked pork meats, breads, breakfast cereals, soups, fast foods, pastries and sugary products) whereas others presented a ratio well below one (fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats and hot beverages). CONCLUSIONS: High sodium and low potassium intakes were widespread in the population. The fact that the main dietary sources of sodium and potassium were, for the most part, not the same demonstrates the feasibility of simultaneously decreasing sodium intake and increasing potassium intake at the individual level [corrected].

Dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs: occurrence in food and dietary intake in France.

PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs contamination data in food products consumed in France collected from national monitoring programmes (2001-04) and representing analytical results for almost 800 individual food samples were combined with food consumption data from the French national dietary survey to estimate PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs dietary intakes, expressed as toxic equivalents (WHO-TEQs). The mean PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs intakes were estimated as 1.8 and 2.8 pg WHO-TEQ kg(-1) b.w. day(-1), respectively, for adults (aged 15 years and over) and children (aged 3-14 years). The main contributors to total intake were fish and milk products for both children and adults (48 and 31% for adults and 34 and 43% for children, respectively). DL-PCBs constituted the largest contributor to contamination in most foodstuffs. A life-long intake estimate showed that a non-negligible part of the French population (between 20 and 28%) had an intake above the tolerable monthly intake for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs of 70 pg WHO-TEQ kg(-1) b.w. month(-1).

Estimated dietary exposure to principal food mycotoxins from the first French Total Diet Study.

This study reports estimates on dietary exposure from the first French Total Diet Study (FTDS) and compares these estimates with both existing tolerable daily intakes for these toxins and the intakes calculated during previous French studies. To estimate the dietary exposure of the French population to the principal mycotoxins in the French diet (as consumed), 456 composite samples were prepared from 2280 individual samples and analysed for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins and patulin. Average and high percentile intakes were calculated taking account of different eating patterns for adults, children and vegetarians. The results showed that contaminant levels observed in the foods examined 'as consumed' complied fully with current European legislation. However, particular attention needs to be paid to the exposure of specific population groups, such as children and vegans/macrobiotics, who could be exposed to certain mycotoxins in quantities that exceed the tolerable or weekly daily intake levels. This observation is particularly relevant with respect to ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. For these mycotoxins, cereals and cereal products were the main contributors to high exposure.