Exposure assessment to synthetic food colours of a selected population in Hyderabad, India

An exposure assessment of synthetic food colours was carried out among 1-5- and 6-18-year-old individuals by the food frequency method. Children had an intake of solid food consumption in the range 2-465 g day^-1 and liquid food consumption in the range 25-840 ml day^-1 with added colours. Among the eight permitted colours in India, six were consumed by the subjects of the study. The intakes of some subjects exceeded the acceptable daily intake for colours such as tartrazine, sunset yellow and erythrosine, which is 7.5, 2.5 and 0.1 mg kg^-1 body weight, respectively. Therefore, a uniform permissible limit of 100 mg kg^-1 prescribed under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act in India for all foods is not justified. The limits need to be revised according to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which permits different maximum levels of additives to various food categories based on both the extent of consumption and the technological justification for its use.     

A U.S. population dietary exposure assessment for 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) from foods containing caramel colour and from formation of 4-MEI through the thermal treatment of food

ABSTRACT

4-Methylimidazole (4-MEI) is formed in caramel colours produced using ammonium compounds (Class III and Class IV caramel colours). 4-MEI can also form in food through Maillard reactions between reducing sugars and amino acids during cooking, roasting or dry-heating. The USFDA has analysed over 700 food and beverage samples collected from 2013 to 2015 for the presence of 4-MEI. These samples include foods containing added caramel colour and foods that are not labelled as containing added caramel colour, but which may contain 4-MEI resulting from thermal treatment. The 4-MEI levels in all food samples were quantified using LC-MS/MS. These data were used to develop a comprehensive dietary exposure assessment for 4-MEI for the U.S. population aged 2 years or more and several sub-populations, using two non-consecutive days of food consumption data from the combined 2009–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and 10–14-day food consumption survey data for 2009–2012 from the NPD Group, Inc. National Eating Trends–Nutrient Intake Database. Dietary exposure estimates were prepared for each category of foods labelled as containing added caramel colour and of foods not labelled as containing added caramel colour, but which may contain 4-MEI from thermal treatment. Exposure to 4-MEI from consumption of foods containing added caramel colour was higher than that from foods that contain 4-MEI from thermal treatment for all population groups. Cola-type carbonated beverages were the highest contributors for most populations from foods containing added caramel colour. Coffee was the highest contributor for most populations from foods in which 4-MEI could be formed from thermal treatment. An overall combined exposure to 4-MEI was also estimated that included all foods identified as containing added caramel colour and foods in which 4-MEI could be formed by thermal treatment.     

高效液相色谱-四级杆/静电场轨道肼高分辨率质谱检测蜂蜜中的4-甲基咪唑和2-甲基咪唑

目的建立高效液相色谱-四级杆/静电场轨道肼高分辨率质谱法直接测定蜂蜜中4-甲基咪唑和2-甲基咪唑的方法。方法用水溶解蜂蜜样品,经0.22μm粒径的微孔膜过滤后,采用Agilent HILIC Plus(2.1 mm×100 mm,3.5μm)色谱柱进行分离,以体积比为8:2的乙腈与5 mmol/L乙酸铵水溶液为流动相进行等度洗脱。质谱采用正离子模式,在质荷比(m/z)50~400范围内通过高分辨质谱全扫描模式提取目标化合物的精确质量数。结果在本文建立的色谱条件下,4-甲基咪唑(4-MI)和2-甲基咪唑(2-MI)能够得到较好的分离,高分辨率质谱提取的质量准确度小于5×10-6(5 ppm)。该方法对4-MI的检测限可达50μg/kg,对2-MI的检测限可达25μg/kg。两种待测物质采用外标法定量,线性良好,相关系数均大于0.99。通过加标验证,在50、100和150μg/kg三个加标水平下,蜂蜜中4-MI和2-MI的平均回收率为73.2%~107.9%,相对标准偏差(RSD)小于9.7%。结论该方法样品处理过程简单,不使用有机溶剂,灵敏度高,适用于任何蜜种的测定,可以作为蜂蜜中是否掺入焦糖色素的检测方法。利用该方法对国内外各地区12个蜜种的30个蜂蜜样品进行检测,均未检出4-MI和2-MI。     

Safety assessment of antioxidants and color fixatives for the Korean population using dietary intake monitoring

Food additives such as antioxidants and color fixatives are substances used in food intentionally for technical effect, such as decolorizing or intensifying the color of food. Based on the necessity of re-evaluating food additives for safety and to improve consumer perception, we conducted safety assessments for food additives according to the Risk Assessment Guidelines of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. These safety assessments evaluated new risk information based on toxicology data and estimates of dietary intake exposures to food additives in comparison with the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Estimated daily intakes (EDI) of food additives were calculated using food consumption data for the Korean population derived from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and monitoring data based on the analysis of food additives in food products. Unlike contaminants, antioxidants and color fixatives are purposely added as food additives, and they are largely consumed in processed foods. Therefore, EDI was compared with ADI to investigate the likelihood of potentially hazardous effects in humans. The risk likelihoods of food additives, evaluated by comparing the EDI with the ADI, were less than 2% in the total population. Thus, exposure levels to antioxidants and color fixatives do not exceed the ADI. Based on the safety assessments conducted in this study, we estimate exposure to food additives to be within safe limits for all population groups.     

Safety assessment of 16 sweeteners for the Korean population using dietary intake monitoring and poundage method

ABSTRACT

A sweetener is a food additive that imparts a sweet taste to food products. Sweeteners have been increasingly used in Korea since the approval of sodium saccharin and d-sorbitol in 1962. Unlike food contaminants, humans are exposed to food additives only through the consumption of processed food products. For exposure assessments of sweeteners, the dietary intakes of food products containing acesulfame-K, aspartame, saccharin-Na, and sucralose were determined, and the resulting calculated estimated daily intake (EDI) values were compared directly with each additive’s ADI. The poundage method was used to calculate the daily intake per capita for 12 additional sweeteners, such as lactitol, for which appropriate analytical methods for food products do not exist. The risk, as evaluated by comparing the EDI with the ADI, was determined to be 2.9% for acesulfame-K, 0.8% for aspartame, 3.6% for saccharin-Na, 4.3% for steviol glycosides, and 2.1% for sucralose. No hazardous effect was predicted for the other 11 sweeteners, including lactitol.     

云南优势水果中植物生长调节剂残留的膳食摄入与风险评估

目的 明确水果中植物生长调节剂残留的风险, 对水果中植物生长调节剂(plant growth regulator, PGR)残留量实行监测并进行风险评估。方法 整合3年的市场监测数据, 利用农药残留专家联席会议农药急性膳食风险摄入量计算方法和@risk定量风险评估专用软件, 对我国各类人群水果中植物生长调节剂残留膳食摄入风险进行评估。结果 4种水果中均有植物生长调节剂检出, 总检出率为17.50%, 香蕉的检出率最高, 为23.33%, 共有6种PGR成分被检出, 分别为氯吡脲、赤霉素、噻苯隆、2,4-滴、多效唑和乙烯利, 检出率为1.04%~8.96%, 乙烯利最高; 短期膳食摄入结果显示, 4个水果品种消费带来的有检出PGR残留短期膳食摄入量在0.468~32.65 ?g/kg bw/d, 仅占其ARfD的0.38%~65.29%, 均小于100%。结论 植物生长调节剂残留膳食摄入风险虽在不同水果品种、不同风险因子和不同人群之间有差异, 但整体风险水平均在可接受范围内。     

河南省居民肉及肉制品中铜摄入水平及其风险评估

目的以河南省肉及肉制品中铜为例,演示采用简单分布评估方法,评价河南省居民肉及肉制品饮食中铜摄入情况及其潜在的健康风险。方法 2014—2015年在河南省16个省辖市随机采集肉及肉制品309份,按照食品中铜测定的原子吸收光谱法标准操作程序进行检测,结合河南省2010—2012年开展的居民营养与健康状况监测中肉及肉制品的消费量数据,采用简单分布模型(确定性评估)方法,借鉴文献发表的肉及肉制品对膳食中铜的贡献率,计算河南省不同年龄组人群全膳食中铜摄入水平及其潜在的健康风险。结果肉及肉制品中铜的平均含量为0.556 mg/100 g,中位数为0.060 mg/100 g,不同肉及肉制品中铜平均含量最高为内脏(1.561 mg/100 g),铜平均含量最低的为猪肉(0.068 mg/100 g)。河南省居民每天通过进食肉及肉制品的铜平均摄入量为0.046 mg/d,高端(P95)摄入量为0.144 mg/d。利用文献报道的肉及肉制品贡献率外推全膳食中铜摄入量后发现,河南省居民全膳食中铜的平均和P95摄入量分别为0.638和1.977 mg/d。个体评估结果显示,全人群铜摄入量处于推荐摄入量(RNI)与可耐受最高摄入量(UL)之间的个体比例为21.12%(801/3 792),处于EAR和RNI之间的个体比例为8.10%(307/3 792),而低于平均需要量(EAR)、大于UL的人群比例分别为69.75%(2 645/3 792)和1.03%(39/3 792)。结论河南省全人群膳食中铜摄入量缺乏的风险较高,铜过量的风险较低。     

上海市15岁及以上居民膳食反式脂肪酸摄入量及其风险评估

目的 了解上海市常见市售食品中反式脂肪酸（TFAs）含量,评估上海15岁及以上居民膳食TFAs的摄入水平及其潜在健康风险。方法 在本市超市、农贸市场、餐饮店等采样点采集11大类664份食品样品,采用《食品安全国家标准 食品中反式脂肪酸的测定》（GB 5009.257—2016）检测TFAs含量。结合“2013年上海市居民膳食与健康状况监测”消费量数据,采用简单分布模型（确定性评估）方法,计算每个个体每日TFAs摄入量及其供能比。结果 在各类食品中,植物油中TFAs平均含量最高,达0.7 g/100 g,乳及乳制品中TFAs平均含量次之,为0.67 g/100 g,牛羊肉及其制品中的TFAs平均含量也较高,为0.51 g/100 g。上海市15岁及以上人群TFAs平均摄入量为0.34 g/d,平均供能比为0.18%,远低于WHO的建议水平（1%）。从个体TFAs供能比在人群中的分布来看,大部分居民供能比在0.1%~0.3%范围内,最大值为0.68%。从不同类食品对TFAs摄入的贡献率来看,加工食品占总摄入水平的75.16%,其中植物油贡献率最高,约占51.58%。结论 植物油是上海市15岁及以上居民膳食TFAs的最主要来源;上海市15岁及以上人群膳食摄入TFAs的健康风险很低。     

Analysis and risk assessment of 4(5)-methylimidazole in brown colored foods and beverages

In this study, the 4(5)-methylimidazole (4(5)-MI) levels in various 144 brown coloured foods and beverages were determined. The brown coloured foods and beverages were 62 processed sauces, 40 coffee, 9 caramel syrups, 18 red ginseng juice and 15 Japanese apricot fruit juice. The amount of 4(5)-MI in brewed coffee (1821.3 ng/g) was the highest level among the samples. The 4(5)-MI concentration in processed sauce (47.6 ng/g) was the lowest level among the samples. The levels of 4(5)-MI in various samples were found as follows: 47.6–1748.5 ng/g in processed sauces, 64.1–1821.3 ng/g in commercial coffee, 115.5–491.9 ng/g in caramel syrups, 91.0–854.1 ng/g in red ginseng juice and 137.6–587.4 ng/g in Japanese apricot fruit juice. Based on the 4(5)-MI levels, the estimated daily intake (EDI) and chronic daily intake (CDI) were calculated. EDI and CDI of red ginseng juice was the highest among all samples, and they were 1618.6 and 1256.8 ng/kg bw/day, respectively.     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定客家娘酒中的2-甲基咪唑、4-甲基咪唑及5-羟甲基糠醛

目的 建立超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定客家娘酒中的2-甲基咪唑(2-methylimidazole, 2-MEI)、4-甲基咪唑(4-methylimidazole, 4-MEI)和5-羟甲基糠醛(5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 5-HMF)的分析方法。方法 样品经过直接稀释法和标准加入法分别进行前处理, 使用ACQUITY UPLC BEH HILIC (100 mm× 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm)色谱柱进行样品分离, 以甲醇-5 mmol/L氨水为流动相进行梯度洗脱, 采用电喷雾离子源正离子模式和多反应监测模式进行检测。结果 在优化条件下, 2-MEI和4-MEI在1~500 ng/mL范围内线性关系良好, 相关系数(r2)为0.9998和0.9998, 5-HMF在50~8000 ng/mL线性范围内r2为0.9970。2-MEI、4-MEI和5-HMF在低、中、高3个浓度添加水平下的回收率范围分别为88.7%~108%、77.5%~102%和95.7%~98.4%, 相对标准偏差分别为4.16%~10.50%、2.04%~5.49%和3.10%~6.62%。2-MEI、4-MEI和5-HMF的检出限分别为3、3和17 ng/mL, 定量限分别为10、10和50 ng/mL。结论 本方法操作简便、线性关系良好、回收率高, 适用于客家娘酒中2-MEI、4-MEI和5-HMF的检测。     

Usage pattern and exposure assessment of food colours in different age groups of consumers in the State of Uttar Pradesh,India

The present study aims to investigate the nature and levels of colours in food items and to undertake risk assessment vis-à-vis intake among different age groups of consumers in the State of Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 478 edible foodstuffs were analysed, and of six permitted colours, Sunset Yellow FCF (SSYFCF) and Tartrazine were most popular, and two non-permitted colours, namely Metanil Yellow and Rhodamine B, were encountered. The study showed a marked improvement in the trend of use of non-permitted colours over previous surveys, with 90% foods now resorting to approved food colours. However, 59% of foods employing permitted colours exceeded the maximum allowable limit, with average quantities crossing the threshold of 100 mg kg^?1 in most food commodities. The intake of SSYFCF exceeded the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for children and adolescents by 88% and 39%, respectively, and was statistically significant when analysed by error bars and distribution curves. In adults, SSYFCF saturated 59% of the ADI. For Carmoisine, Tartrazine and Ponceau 4R, saturation of ADI ranged from 27.4% to 90.3% in children and adolescents and from 10.8% to 47.6% in adult subjects. These results indicate that children and adolescents are more vulnerable to higher intakes of food colours compared with the adult population. Allowing a uniform level of all colours in foods under Indian rules, notwithstanding wide variations of 250-fold in their allocated ADIs, could be one reason for the higher intake and hence only technological need-based levels of individual colours are desired to be prescribed.     

我国七省市餐馆就餐人群的谷氨酸盐摄入量评估及影响因素初探

目的 分析我国七省市餐馆就餐人群的谷氨酸盐（均以谷氨酸计）摄入量,并评估该类人群的暴露风险。方法 采用多阶段分层与人口成比例的整群随机抽样方法,在北京、重庆、辽宁、山东、广西、江苏与陕西7个省/市随机抽取调味品,使用超高效液相色谱-串接质谱测定方法检测调味品中的谷氨酸盐含量,并根据本次餐馆调查此前获得的消费量数据,采用简单分布模型计算餐馆就餐者的谷氨酸盐摄入量。结果 鲜味剂和助鲜剂的谷氨酸盐含量最高（以谷氨酸钠计）,其次为鸡精/鸡粉、除鸡精外固体复合调味品、液体复合调味品、酱油、以动物原料为基料的半固体复合调味品、香辛料、酿造配制酱等,盐及代盐品的谷氨酸盐含量最低。餐馆就餐者一餐的调味品谷氨酸盐摄入量均值为47.87 mg/kg·BW,占JECFA设定ADI的39.89%。考虑就餐者一天内在餐馆外摄入的食物,则其一天的谷氨酸盐摄入量均值为61.33 mg/kg·BW（均以谷氨酸计）,占ADI的51.11%。在不同规模餐馆的就餐者中,中型餐馆的一餐谷氨酸盐摄入量最高,摄入量中位数为44.46 mg/kg·BW,其次为大型餐馆和小型餐馆,三者间就餐者的谷氨酸盐摄入量均存在统计学差异（P<0.05）,均值占ADI的比例均<50%。在不同地区,广东省就餐者的谷氨酸盐中位摄入量最高为64.22 mg/kg·BW,北京市的中位摄入量最低为18.66 mg/kg·BW,经两两比较,除山东省和陕西省间差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,其他省市的摄入量水平均存在差异（P<0.05）,均值占ADI的比例均<80%。城市与县城比较,城市餐馆就餐者的摄入量显著高于县城（P<0.05）,均值占ADI的比例均<50%。结论 我国七省市餐馆就餐者谷氨酸盐暴露风险仍处于可接受水平,但不同省市以及城市与县城的餐馆就餐者的谷氨酸盐摄入量不同。     

高糖食品中2-（4-甲氧基苯氧基）丙酸钠的风险评估

为探讨化学合成的芳氧羧酸类化合物2-（4-甲氧基苯氧基）丙酸钠在食品生产中作为食品添加剂的安全性,本文采用动物实验对化学合成的2-（4-甲氧基苯氧基）丙酸钠进行毒理学评价,采用高效液相色谱法对食品中2-（4-甲氧基苯氧基）丙酸钠的使用率进行研究。毒理学实验结果表明,化学合成的2-（4-甲氧基苯氧基）丙酸钠的半数致死量LD₅₀为6577 mg/kg bw,哺乳动物微粒体酶实验及小鼠精子畸形实验分别显示其未见明显的致突变性及遗传毒性。色谱检测结果表明,月饼、糖果及糕点等3类高糖食品的2-（4-甲氧基苯氧基）丙酸钠使用率较高,其中平均使用量分别为149.48±1.26、52.30±1.87、71.31±1.39 mg/kg;中位值使用量分别为118.05±2.11、72.58±0.94、（65.77±1.02）mg/kg;95%位值使用量分别为439.97±2.06、340.77±1.45、137.63±1.62 mg/kg。综合毒理学评价结果及2-（4-甲氧基苯氧基）丙酸钠的使用情况进行风险评估,结果表明添加量为95%位值使用量时,化学合成的2-（4-甲氧基苯氧基）丙酸钠暴露量已超出其ADI值,可能会对高糖食品的安全性造成影响。      

除虫脲在棉叶和土壤中消解动态分析及棉子中残留量膳食摄入评估

目的评价除虫脲在棉叶、土壤中的消解趋势和土壤及棉子中的残留水平。方法棉叶、土壤样品经乙腈提取、氯化钠盐析、弗罗里硅土固相萃取柱净化后,采用高效液相色谱-光电二极管阵列检测器检测;同时对2014年和2015年除虫脲在河南和北京两地棉叶及土壤中的残留消解动态进行分析并对棉子中的最终残留量进行膳食摄入评估。结果除虫脲在棉子、棉叶和土壤空白样品添加的平均回收率在79%~103%之间,相对标准偏差在3%~15%之间,最低检测浓度均为0.1 mg/kg。棉叶中除虫脲的残留消解半衰期在5.0~8.6 d之间,土壤中残留消解半衰期在3.8~14 d之间。按本试验方式进行施药及采样后,棉子中除虫脲的最终残留量低于0.1 mg/kg,土壤中的残留量低于0.19 mg/kg。结论除虫脲普通人群的国家估计每日摄入量是0.873229mg/kg·bw,占日允许摄入量的69.3%左右,认为对一般人群健康不会产生不可接受的风险。     

Association of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) with feed intake,growth, fatness and carcass composition in pigs raised in Poland

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is involved in feed intake regulation. A missense mutation G/A in position 1426, which causes Asp-Asn substitution at position 298 in the MC4R gene has been associated with feed intake, fatness and growth, however published results of its effect are inconsistent. In our study we evaluated an effect of missense mutations on carcass composition, growth traits and meat quality in 1191 gilts of five breeds: Polish Large White, Polish Landrace, Pu?awska, Pietrain and Duroc. G/A 1426 MC4R mutations were genotyped using a 7500 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystem). Our observations confirm that the G allele is frequent in breeds selected for lean meat content (Pietrain – 92.4%) and rare in breed with a fat carcass (Duroc – 31.5%), which has been previously reported. Our study revealed that the A allele was associated with increased daily feed intake (AA – 2.51 kg; GG – 2.31 kg in the Pu?awska breed, P < 0.05), daily gain and backfat thickness (AA – 1.67 cm, GG – 1.52 cm in PL, P < 0.01) and decreased lean meat content (total weight of ham was 0.5 kg greater in G/G than in A/A Pu?awska animals). We obtained an unexpected result for IMF: higher percentage of IMF was observed in the G/G genotype.     

我国重点和非重点地区居民膳食中高氯酸盐暴露风险概率评估

目的 评估我国高氯酸盐污染重点和非重点地区膳食中高氯酸盐的暴露水平及健康风险。方法 通过检索文献收集我国食品中高氯酸盐的含量数据,利用2015年中国总膳食研究数据,概率评估两类地区各年龄组居民膳食中高氯酸盐暴露风险。结果 茶叶（175.54 μg/kg）中高氯酸盐平均含量最高,蔬菜是我国居民通过膳食摄入高氯酸盐的重要食品类别（贡献率为79.40%）。分别与联合国粮食及农业组织/世界卫生组织食品添加剂联合专家委员会设定的暂定最大每日容许摄入量（PMTDI）（10 μg/kg?BW）和我国学者暂定每日容许摄入量（tTDI）（0.7 μg/kg?BW）相比,99%居民膳食中高氯酸盐暴露量低于PMTDI,但在两类地区各有4.96%和26.57%居民的高氯酸盐膳食暴露量超过tTDI;在饮茶人群中,95%居民膳食中高氯酸盐暴露量低于PMTDI,而在两地区各有57.47%和77.94%的饮茶人群膳食高氯酸盐暴露量超过tTDI。结论 我国居民经膳食摄入高氯酸盐暴露风险总体较低,但存在一些重点地区因局部高污染等因素导致暴露风险高于其他地区。     

分散固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定酱油中的2-甲基咪唑和4-甲基咪唑

目的建立测定酱油中2-甲基咪唑和4-甲基咪唑的分散固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(dSPEUPLC-MS/MS)分析方法。方法样品加入同位素内标后,以水稀释,并调至碱性,用乙腈提取,加入无水MgSO4和无水NaAC,老抽样品再经N-丙基乙二胺(PSA)/多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs)分散净化,采用UPLC BEH HILIC(50 mm×2.1 mm,1.7μm)色谱柱分离,以乙腈-10 mmol/L乙酸铵溶液(含0.1%甲酸,v/v)为流动相等度洗脱,采用电喷雾离子源串联质谱,正离子多反应监测模式检测,以同位素内标定量。结果 2-甲基咪唑和4-甲基咪唑的方法检出限均为1.5μg/kg;在1.0~100μg/L浓度范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.999;在生抽和老抽样品中进行3个水平的添加实验,平均回收率(n=6)为89.6%~117.2%,日内精密度为4.8%~12.9%,日间精密度(n=5)小于15%。结论本方法简单快速、准确灵敏,适用于酱油中2-甲基咪唑和4-甲基咪唑的测定。     

氯化铵和磷酸二氢钠对小球藻增殖的影响

通过小球藻一次性培养试验,研究了不同氯化铵浓度和无机磷浓度对小球藻增殖的影响.结果表明,氯化铵和磷酸二氢钠对该藻增殖具有极显著作用,且这两种营养盐之间存在交互作用.此小球藻生长所需的NH4 -N最适浓度为150μmol/L;相应的无机磷最适浓度为10μmol/L;二者的比例是15:1.营养盐浓度过高或者过低均不利于小球藻的增殖.     

Dietary exposure and risk assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls of the population in the Region of Valencia (Spain)

Dietary exposure of the Valencia Region population to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and PCBs was assessed in the Region of Valencia in 2010–2011. A total of 7700 food samples were collected. Occurrence data were combined with consumption data to estimate dietary exposure in adults (>15 years of age) and young people (6–15 years of age). The estimated intake was calculated by a probabilistic approach. Average intake levels (upper-bound scenario) were 1.58 and 2.76 pg toxic equivalent (TEQ) kg^?1 body weight (bw) day^?1 for adults and young people, respectively. These average intakes are within range of the tolerable daily intake of 1–4 pg WHO-TEQ kg^?1 bw day^?1 recommended by WHO, and slightly above the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 14 pg TEQ kg^?1 bw week^?1 and the Provisional tolerable monthly intake of 70 pg TEQ kg^?1 bw month^?1 set by the Scientific Committee on Food and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food, respectively. These results show that the contamination levels in food and therefore the exposure of the general population to PCDD/Fs and PCBs have declined in this region and therefore show the efficiency of the European risk-management measures. In terms of risk characterisation, the results showed that, under the upper-bound scenario, 22% of the adult and 58% of the young people population could exceed the TWI.