2004 Volume VIII, No. 1NEWS FROM INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES The 35th session (March 17–21, 2003, Arusha, Tanzania) and 36th session (March 22–26, 2004, Rotterdam,the Netherlands) of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants featured input from various countries with a strong interest in how increased scrutiny of aflatoxin levels will affect the competitiveness of their exports in the international marketplace. In their revision of an earlier brief on aflatoxins in tree nuts, representatives presented data on the frequency and concentration of aflatoxin contamination in economically significant nut crops, including pistachios, almonds, cashews, pine nuts, and Brazil nuts. While early 2003 data showed total aflatoxin levels generally below 1 µg/kg in most nuts, levels as high as 150 µg/kg for hazelnuts and 169 µg/kg for pistachios were reported between 1998 and 2002. These high levels raised serious concerns. The committee concluded that levels of aflatoxins should be as low as technologically feasible, while taking into account economic and social conditions in nut-producing regions. The control strategies proposed included implementation of good agricultural practices (GAP) to eliminate or reduce fungal infection and proliferation and to limit the production of aflatoxins during the preharvesting and harvesting periods. The committee also emphasized the importance of good manufacturing practices (GMP) and good storage practices (GSP) during the postharvest and processing phases. Other recommendations included new control measures throughout the crop production and the trade cycles, as well as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems and continued research into how environmental factors affect fungal growth. Validated test methods, such as rapid immunoassays for screening and confirmatory TLC or HPLC, as well as internal quality assurance in chemical laboratories,were likewise deemed crucial. In conclusion, the committee suggested that the relatively insignificant percentage of total aflatoxin consumption that comes from nuts (less than 2% for adults) be taken into account and that more occurrence data be gathered to ensure that regulators develop practical and safe limits. The committee noted that a code of practice for reducing aflatoxin content in peanuts is particularly urgent because of the importance of peanuts not only as an export crop, but also a staple food in many countries. Recommendations included GAP, especially at the sorting, drying, and preharvest phases, and HACCP. The committee also called for increased efforts to educate growers about environmental factors and to develop quick, affordable tests that would not unduly disrupt business operations. |