Professor Stanislaw Berger - the jubilee of 100th birthday.

Professor Stanislaw Berger - Polish scientist, creator of human nutrition science, international authority, excellent lecturer, and consistent organizer of the nutritional scientific community - celebrates his 100th birthday. He was born on September 13, 1923. The history of Professor Stanislaw Berger's long life is presented in this jubilee article.

The 70 year anniversary of the Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny / Annals of the National Institute of Hygiene

The article presents the genesis of the foundation and development of 'Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny' [Annals of the National Institute of Hygiene] since 1950 to 2019, scientific peer-reviewed journal devoted to research studies on the food and water safety, nutrition, environmental hygiene, toxicology and health risk assessment, and public health. It also shows the difficulties that this journal had initially to struggle with, and its achievements in recent years, aiming to improve its international position. The article discusses the stages of journal's development and activity in terms of scientific, editorial and publishing.

State Hygiene School as a Department of Education in the National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw

The article presents the history of the establishment of the State School of Hygiene (PSH) in Poland after the First World War. The difficulties faced by the public health service in a country destroyed by war and created after the reunification of the lands, which for over 150 years remained under the control of three powers, were pointed out. It discusses how the foundations of modern teaching in the field of public health were created in the National Institute of Hygiene (PZH) in Warsaw, an institution to which the Ministry of Public Health entrusted tasks related to health education in the country. The State School of Hygiene was built by the Polish Government with a significant financial contribution from the John Davison Rockefeller Foundation. The official opening ceremony took place on 20 April 1926. The State School of Hygiene in Warsaw was the first such school in Europe. It educated professional staff for the health service in Poland, especially sanitary physicians, sanitary inspectors, nurses and staff to work in health offices. The importance and scope of influence of the State School of Hygiene as the Department of Education in the National Institute of Hygiene was constantly increasing, as evidenced by the number of students (about 800 per year) participating in courses, especially in the first years after its establishment. By the end of 1935, 6,389 students had completed the courses, including 1,900 physicians. Apart from the teaching activities, the State School of Hygiene also carried out research work. The State School of Hygiene was supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, which funded scholarships for the employees of the National Institute of Hygiene at university centers in the USA

Development of food and nutrition sciences in the 100-year history of the National Institute of Hygiene in Poland

Issues related to nutrition and food safety in Poland are included in the hundred-year history of the National Institute of Hygiene (PZH), which exists since 1918. The first scientific institution in Poland devoted to nutrition after the First World War was the Department of Biochemistry and Hygiene of Nutrition created in 1923 in the National School of Hygiene operating at the National Institute of Hygiene (PZH), whose director was Dr. Ludwik Rajchman. This Department was headed since 1925 by Kazimierz Funk, an outstanding scholar, who had already gained international fame as a discoverer of vitamins, and at PZH he investigated the effects of poor nutrition on health. After departure of Kazimierz Funk from Poland, the issues related to nutrition were dealt with by Dr. Gustaw Szulc and Dr. Aleksander Szczygiel, who since 1938 was the head of the Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition Hygiene. In 1963, all issues related to nutrition were transferred from the National Institute of Hygiene (PZH) to the newly founded Institute of Food and Nutrition in Warsaw, whose director was Aleksander Szczygiel. Food safety issues went to the National Institute of Hygiene in 1935 after incorporating into its structure the State Department of Food and Consumers Goods operating in Warsaw since 1919. Thanks to this reorganization, National Institute of Hygiene became the headquarter for all State Departments of Food and Consumer Goods in Poland. As soon as in the third year of their activity (in 1921), the laboratories of the State Department of Food and Consumers Goods examined over 65,000 samples of food products, detecting adulterations, false labeling, harmful admixtures or spoiled products in 44% of cases. The State Departments of Food and Consumer Goods in 1952 were transformed into Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations and incorporated into the structures of the State Sanitary Inspection. National Institute of Hygiene obtained the status of a research institute whose tasks were besides the scientific activity, the postgraduate education of the personnel of this Inspection. After the Second World War, prof. Stanislaw Krauze, who was appointed the head of the Department of Food Research and Articles of Common Use at the PZH in 1935, continued his mission. Prof. Stanislaw Krauze was recognized as the founder of the scientific bases of food control in Poland, food sciences and the initiator of microbiological food research. Prof. Stanislaw Krauze was the head of this Department of PZH until 1962. Another head of this Department, prof. dr h.c. Maksym Nikonorow, introduced research on pesticide residues, food monitoring studies, as well as toxicological testing using laboratory animals, opening a new quality in the assessment of food safety. After his retirement this Department was led by prof. Halina Mazur (1981-1990) and assoc. prof. Kazimierz Karlowski (1990-2010). Since 2011 dr Jacek Postupolski is a head of this Department, which in 2012 has changed its name to the Department of Food Safety. The scientific staff of this Department, besides conducting scientific research, service, and educational activities, acts as experts for the Minister of Health, the Minister of Agriculture, and other national authorities, and cooperates with the FAO/WHO, the European Commission and Food and Feed Safety Authority (EFSA). In the Department there are accredited laboratories serving as the National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) which cooperate with the European Union Reference Laboratories (EU-RLs).

Nanomaterials in food contact materials; considerations for risk assessment

Nanotechnology applications in the food industry, including food contact materials, offer many potential benefits for consumers and manufacturers alike. The article discusses the migration of nanoparticles from food contact materials and the possible health risks associated with in the context of insufficient knowledge of the potential exposure to nanomaterial. The importance of gaps in the general knowledge on the behaviour and biological interactions of nanomaterials in biological systems becomes crucial for risk assessment. The article also discussed numerous doubts concerning the measurements of biological reactions in animal tests and the need for new approaches in the interpretation of data from nanoparticles studies in vivo. The article underlines the need to develop predictive and validated toxicological tests that can be used to screen for potential hazards, and also to develop new methodology for measuring nanoparticles in biological matrices to assess human exposure. Further studies should focus on understanding the mechanisms of action. Nanoparticles exhibit chemical and physical properties that significantly differ from those substances at a large size. Different properties of nanoparticles may lead to different toxicological properties. From that reason nanoparticles, in each case, are individually assessed by the European Food Standard Agency (EFSA) in terms of health risk before the European Commission authorizes them to be used in food contact materials.

Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials - new scientific opinion from EFSA regarding public health risk.

The wide use of bisphenol A (BPA) as a monomer in plastics manufacture or epoxy resins intended for food contact materials (FCM) has triggered numerous concerns due to toxicological findings indicating possible endocrine disrupting properties. This article traces the evolution of the scientific opinions since 1986 when the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for BPA and its specific migration limit (SML) from plastic FCM into food were proposed for the first time by the Scientific Committee for Food (SCF). Resent extensive scientific studies concerning refined data on toxicity and exposure to BPA from food and non-food sources (eg. dust, cosmetics, thermal paper), including the most vulnerable groups of population, allowed the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to reduce the TDI of BPA from previously 50 µg/kg bw/day to now 4 µg/kg bw/day. EFSA's latest scientific opinion published in 2015 concludes that basing on the current estimations of total exposure to BPA from dietary and non-dietary sources for infants, children and adolescents is below the temporary TDI of 4 µg/kg bw/day. EFSA has also underlined that BPA poses no health risk at the estimated exposure levels of any population age group, including unborn children and the elderly. However, EFSA has indicated that some data on exposure and toxicological effects still require clarifications.

Endocrine disruptors in food contact materials; is there a health threat?

Food Contact Materials (FCMs) are a major source of endocrine disrupting chemical substances (EDCs), thus forming an important part of human exposure to these compounds, to which this article is addressed. The potential impact of such exposures on endocrine function, and thereby health outcomes, requires scientifically valid evidence so that appropriate risk management decisions can be taken to diminish human exposure, particularly in vulnerable population groups like infants and small children. Relevant aspects of exposure assessment are discussed based on testing migration of EDCs from FCMs, together with the different approaches so used. The specific migration testing determines whether limits for defined substances are met. However not all EDCs present in the leachate may be found by these means. In fact, the chances of detecting EDCs in the food simulant (leachate) are improved when it is subjected the relevant biological testing, thus helping to provide improved protection against these chemical substances. Nevertheless, official controls and risk management decisions do not necessarily take such testing into account, as the relevant legislation is based on specific migration limits that may be easily quantified and addressed in the risk management process. Elucidating the link between observed endocrine activity and any toxic effects so arising, is complicated by the complexity of endocrine interrelationships coupled with relatively limited sensitivity of toxicological tests. Any risk assessment implies a rather high uncertainty and should include also any cumulative effects. This review discusses the effects of the EDCs like bisphenol A, phthalates and benzophenone found in FCMs. In addition, the approaches from the USA and EU for systematically evaluating man-made EDCs in the environment are also considered, including appropriate prioritisation criteria.

[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.

[Hazards for health related to migration of substances from packaging into food]. / Zagrozenia dla zdrowia zwiazane z migracja substancji z opakowan do zywnosci.

The release of the substances from food packaging into food triggers the problem for food safety and is the matter of particular interest in the European Commission (EC) and Member States. The problems concerning the presence of these substances in the food which result from their migration from food contact materials, and the EC activities to discover the causes of this phenomenon including an assessment of possible health impact are presented in this article. The risk assessment is provided by the European Food Safety Authority which is obliged to issue a scientific opinion on expected heath effects. Food contact articles which do not conform to the food safety provisions are reported to the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). The health hazards due to the presence in food of the semicarbazide (SEM), photoinitiators (isopropylthioxantone (ITX), benzophenone compounds), primary aromatic amines (PAAs) and bisphenol A (BPA) were discussed and the relevant European Commission actions aiming at consumers health protection as a reaction to reduce the expected risk were also presented in this article.

[Role of the EFSA in risk management system regarding food contact materials and articles]. / Rola EFSA w systemie zarzadzania ryzykiem w odniesieniu do materialów i wyrobów przeznaczonych do kontaktu z zywnoscia.

The role of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the risk management system regarding food contact materials and articles is related with the risk assessment of the substances for the European Commission. General rules for the authorisation of substances used in materials and articles intended to contact with food is established in the Regulation (EC) no 1935/2004. For the evaluation of substances their toxicological properties and magnitude of migration into food simulants is taken into account. Toxicological studies include the mutagenicity tests, oral toxicity studies, carcinogenicity, reproduction and also studies on absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of the substance and other studies when needed. The set of the relevant toxicological data for substance depends on the magnitude of migration. In the case of positive opinion by EFSA the substance appears on the Community list of authorised substances. Sometimes, the earlier evaluated and authorized substances must undergo re-evaluation due to their new toxicological properties or as a result of a presence in the food of their earlier unknown decomposition products. Examples of the selected substances which underwent re-evaluation by EFSA in the light of the current toxicological knowledge and the relevant activities undertaken by the European Commission have been presented.

[Safety of food contact articles in RASFF system]. / Bezpieczenstwo wyrobów przeznaczonych do kontaktu z zywnoscia w systemie RASFF.

Materials and articles intended for contact with food must comply with the requirements set in the Regulation EC No 1935/2007. According to article 3 of this Regulation in normal conditions of use they could not transfer their components into food in the amounts which could endanger human health, cause unacceptable changes in the composition of food or cause a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics. The Regulation EC No 178/2002 related to the food law provides the legal basis for the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). RASFF, besides food and feed, deals with materials and articles intended to contact with food. The structure of RASFF system in the EU is functioning as a network of the official contact points in the Member States. In Poland the General Sanitary Inspectorate as a national contact point coordinates the activity of RASFF system. The products, which do not comply with the specific regulation and on the base of the risk assessment can pose the hazard to human health, are notified to this system. The notifications are classified as: alert notification, information notification and news. The notifications are published as weekly and annual reports. The majority of notifications in 2002-2006 concerned non-compliance of food contact articles with the allowed limits of overall and specific migration of the following substances: primary aromatic amines (PAA), formaldehyde, plasticizers, semicarbazide, isoprophylthioxanthone and metals. The number of notifications systematically grows up from 5 notifications in 2002 to 189 notifications in 2006. Majority of notified articles were made in China. Including of food contact materials into RASFF system allows for rapid withdrawal of non-complying products from the market.

[Overall migartion testing with alternative fatty food simulants]. / Badania migracji globalnej z zastosowaniem alternatywnych plynów modelowych zywnosci zawierajacej tluszcz.

Overall migration from commercial samples of food plastics packaging into 95% ethanol and isooctane--the alternative fatty food simulants--was determined. Testing conditions--time and temperature of the contact of food packaging material with food simulants reflected real or predicted use of given packaging. The analytical methods according to European Standard EN 1186 were used. Test methods by filling the artiecles, total immersion, forming a pouch or using the cell were used for migration as appropriate to allow contact with liquid food simulant only this surface which will come into the contact with food during normal use of the product. The overall migration from the samples of the tested products into both food simulants (95% ethanol and iso-octane) was well below the limit (10 mg/dm2), except of the migration from plasticized PVC films which markedly exceeded above limit, showing that these films must not be used for packaging of food containing fat. Application of food simulants as a alternative to olive oil markedly shortens analytical procedure and reduces workload, both important in routine testing.

[Organoleptic analysis of food packaging]. / Badania organoleptyczne opakowan do zywnosci.

The basic rules for the organoleptic analysis of food contact materials and food packaging and the criteria of their assessment was presented. According to the EU legislation food contact materials can not release their constituents into the food in quantities that can be harmful for the consumers and/or can change the organoleptic characteristics of food. Conformity of food contact materials and food packaging with the regulation for overall and specific migration and organoleptic characteristics should be shown by their performance in relevant tests. The standardised method for the organoleptic analysis of the food contact materials does not exist in the UE. Member States use the own methods published as national standards. For sensory analysis of foreign taste and odour Poland uses the triangle method according to Polish Standard PN-87/O-79114. Some countries use Robinson test according to German Standard DIN 10955. These two tests are basing on the same principle. Food contact materials and food packaging, which give negative results in sensory analysis can not be used in direct contact with food, even though all testing parameters in overall and specific migration were fulfil the requirements for the permissible limits.

[Determination of the overall migration of chemicals from the plastic packaging into the aqueous models of food using the EU methods]. / Oznaczanie migracji globalnej z opakowan zywnosci do wodnych plynów modelowych metodami zalecanymi w Unii Europejskiej.

Overall migration from food plastic packaging to aquatic food simulants (distilled water, 3% acetic acid) was determined according to the EU methods. Testing conditions (time and temperature) reflected normal use of tested food packaging. The overall migration studies using different food simulants (distilled water, 3% acetic acid) shows that the migration rate was very low, far below the allowed limit (10 mg/dm2). The high results of overall migration into 3% acetic acid (average 250.2 mg/dm2), markedly exceeding the allowed limit, was found in the case of multilayer film. It means that the multilayer film tested does not comply with the migration limit and it can not be used as a food packaging for the sour foodstuffs of pH below 4.5. Differences between the magnitude of overall migration into distilled water (0.5-1.1 mg/dm2) and 3% acetic acid are probably due to the presence of easy washable substances into the sour medium. From that reason the application of such food packaging materials must be limited.

[Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)--health aspects and food packaging application]. / Politereftalan etylenu (PET)--aspekty zdrowotne i zastosowanie do pakowania zywnosci.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) due to its physicochemical properties, especially regidity and glass-like transparency is widely used as food packaging material. The relevant legislation states that substances may not migrate from food contacting materials in quantities that may cause undesirable changes in organoleptic properties of food coming into contact with such material. The lists of substances authorized for food contact plastic materials and requirements for the final product were established. The requirements concern global migration limits (60 mg/kg or 10 mg/dm2) and specific migration limits (SML) set for substances which, when migrate into food in grater quantities may cause risk for human health. For the products manufactured from PET the specific migration limits were set for terephthalic acid (7.5 mg/kg), for isophthalic acid (5 mg/kg), for isophthalic acid dimethyl ester (0.05 mg/kg) and for ethylene and diethylene glycol (30 mg/kg). PET may undergo thermal degradation resulting in formation of acetaldehyde, which may influence organoleptic characteristics of packaged foods changing taste and smell.

[Substance migration and health quality of packaged food]. / Badania migracji i ocena jakosci zdrowotnej opakowan zywnosci.

According to legislation the producer is responsible for the product. Products placed on the market must be safe and the relevant documentation confirming the conformity of the product with the accepted limits of global and specific migration must be available from the producer. The provisions concerning acceptable migration limits (global and specific), stimulants and testing methods are set by the relevant regulations. Distilled water, 3% acetic acid, 10% ethanol and olive oil are used as stimulants of foodstuffs. The choice of an appropriate stimulant and testing conditions depends on the type of food expected to come in contact with packaging. According to provisions testing should be performed in the conditions, which possibly closely reflect actual or expected use of the packaging material, taking into account storage of the product as well as possible thermal processing. Test methods for global migration into stimulants using the cell, pouch, by immerse or by article filling are recommended. The criteria used to choose an appropriate testing method are set in European Standards EN 1186. A product meets the quality criteria as set by the legislation if the global migration from the packaging into stimulants does not exceed value of 10 mg/dm2 or 60 mg/kg and if the specific migration limit (SML), set for given substance is not exceeded.