[Global trends of food safety information associated with chemicals in food].
Recently, a number of food safety problems have frequently arisen and consumer concerns have drastically increased. In order to meet these concerns, we have been publishing a biweekly bulletin called "Food Safety Information" since April 2003, monitoring the latest information from overseas on food safety. In this paper, we analyze the recent trends of information on food chemicals in the bulletin published between April 2003 and March 2005 in order to clarify the problems that need to be followed up. Among the 1,199 entries on food chemicals included in the bulletin, about 50% were from the EU and European organizations such as the FSA (UK). Approximately 20% of the total information focused on food contaminants such as heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs and mycotoxins. Scientific evidence-based information on dietary supplements and herb products was also suggested to be important to protect public health as well as food contaminants. We monitor the latest information on food safety constantly and continuously, which is important for long-term follow up of food safety issues of concern. We also provide the bulletin to the general public through the website as well as to researchers and risk managers.
Yamamoto
Miyako
M
yamamotomy@nihs.go.jp
Uneyama
Chikako
C
Toda
Miou
M
Morikawa
Kaoru
K
D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005504:Food Analysis; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000639:trends