Member-only story
New food contaminant under the EU radar
The EU just introduced monitoring of 𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐬 in food under Recommendation (EU) 2026/2335.
Member States should cooperate with food businesses to collect data 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟗. The initiative follows EFSA’s identification of substantial gaps preventing a robust dietary exposure assessment.
Monitoring covers fish, dairy products, oils and fats, other animal products, processed foods (whole meal) and infant foods.
The approach has two tiers. The sum of C10-C17 PCAs, the predominant group in food, should be determined using GC-MS/MS or GC-LRMS, which are more widely available and less costly techniques; alternative methods are acceptable provided their equivalence has been demonstrated. If the sum exceeds the threshold values, the sample should be analysed for all PCAs, including C18-C30, using LC or GC coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).
The threshold values for the sum of C10-C17 PCAs are:
🐟 Fish: 100 ng/g fresh weight;
🥛 Milk and dairy products: 20 ng/g fresh weight;
🧈 Vegetable and animal oils and fats: 1,000 ng/g fat;
🥩 Other products of animal origin (e.g., meat and eggs): 300 ng/g fat;
🍲 Processed foods: 50 ng/g fresh weight;
🍼 Foods for infants and young children: 20 ng/g fresh weight.
