Food safety standards

Both the Codex Alimentarius and the EU use food safety standards to control trade of foods and animal feed. With regard to these standards there is a distinction between "contaminants" and "residues". Contaminants are regulated by means of a Maximum Level (ML), whereas standards for residues are called a Maximum Residue Level (MRL). Because of the differences between both, the way these standards are set are also different.

Contaminants

The General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 1993-1995) of the Codex Alimentarius defines a contaminant as: "Any substance not intentionally added to food or feed for food producing animals, which is present in such food or feed as a result of the production (including operations carried out in crop husbandry, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine), manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, packing, packaging, transport or holding of such food or feed, or as a result of environmental contamination". In the EU, Council Regulation (EEC) 315/93 uses similar lines.

Next to the environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals and persitent organic pollutants (POPs), there are also chemicals of natural origin. These are usually called "toxins". Well known are the mycotoxins that are synthesized by fungi and contaminate plants. They are found in foods that are derived from such plants. There are also many toxins in plants such as alkaloids, that are made by the plants to protect themselves against being eaten by animals. Most of them are very toxic for humans. So, contaminants are chemical substances that are not intentionally added to food or feed, but can be found as a result of how the foods were produced.

Residues

In contrast, "residues" are intentionally added to food or feed by human activities. Obvious residues are the food-additives, like colorants, artificial flavors, and preservatives. And also chemicals like stabilizers, emulsifiers, fortifiers, sweeteners, and glazing agents. Most of them have an E number in the EU.

Less obvious residues are the pesticides and veterinary drugs. These chemical substances are also used for the production of foods, following strict rules of how they are to be used, and with maximum quantities to be sprayed or injected. Residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs will remain in the plants and animals, and can be found in the foods that are derived from these plants and animals.

Regarding pesticides it should be noted, that a small group of former (now obsolete) pesticides is to be considered as contaminants. Obsolete pesticides, such as DDT, dieldrin, and endrin were widely used in the twentieth century, but banned because of their persistent properties. The remains can still be found in the soil, making obsolete pesticides environmental contaminants that can affect food production.

Databases

Many of the MRLs and MLs of the Codex Alimentarius and the EU are maintained in public databases, whereas others are only published in pdf. Click the icon to consult such databases.