Codex sets limits for melamine and aflatoxin in food

By Rory Harrington

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Food safety Codex alimentarius

The first global limits on permitted melamine levels in food were set yesterday (Tues) by the World Health Organisation (WHO) at its annual food safety summit in Switzerland.

The 130 members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission agreed to set the threshold for the chemical in food at 2.5mg/kg, while the permitted level for infant formula milk was set at 1mg/kg.

Natural contamination

Melamine is a chemical used in a variety of industrial processes - including some food contact surfaces in processing plants, can coatings and the manufacture of plastics used for dishware and kitchenware. The body said traces of it unavoidably get into food by contact without causing health problems but that the substance is toxic at high levels.

Jorgen Schlundt, WHO director of food safety, said the organisation had acted after the food contamination outbreak in China in 2008 when hundreds of tons of melamine were mixed with milk powder. The scandal sickened 300,000 and killed six children “that we know of”, ​he​said.

Codex establishes food safety standard for importers and exporters and is a joint project of the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

WHO expert Dr Angelika Tritscher said the purpose of setting the limits was to allow for the occurrence of natural contamination of melamine through approved uses. She explained that these were from the insecticide cyromazine and through migration from food contact materials such as melaware and some table-top surfaces used in food processing plants. Dr Tritscher said the levels of exposure from these sources were minute and posed no health concerns for humans.

"Establishment of maximum levels will help governments differentiate between low levels of unavoidable melamine occurrence that do not cause health problems, and deliberate adulteration - thereby protecting public health without unnecessary impediments to international trade"​ said Martijn Weijtens, chair of the Codex Committee on contaminants in foods.

While not legally binding the new levels allow countries to refuse to allow the importation of products with excessive levels of melamine.

Aflatoxins and salads

Codex also set a maximum level of 10 mg/kg for aflatoxins in Brazil nuts (shelled, ready-to-eat) and 15 mg/kg for shelled Brazil nuts (intended for further processing). The Commission also adopted a code of practice to prevent this contamination. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic fungal toxins that can contaminate corn, peanuts and other food crops such as tree nuts under certain conditions.

New measures were also passed on salads and vegetables marketed as ready-to-eat (RTE). These provide specific guidance for production, harvesting, packing, processing, storage, distribution, marketing and consumer education to reduce food safety risks associated with these products. Guidance covers such aspects as the control of irrigation waters, cooling and storage and correct washing of hands by consumers. The guidelines say that animal manure should not be used to fertilise RTE lettuce and fresh vegetables and contaminated water should also be kept away from bagged produce that is not heat-treated, said the body.

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