2010, Volume XIII, Issue 1REGULATORY NEWSMembers of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the U.S. Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program (NTP) approved the first draft of a report calling for in-depth study of deoxynivalenol (DON) at a July 23–24, 2009, meeting. A presentation of the background and rationale for the proposed study summarized the existing research on DON exposure, toxicology, epidemiology, and toxikinetics; outlined the remaining data gaps; and recommended additional animal studies to determine DON’s carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity. During discussion of the proposal, several interested parties, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the North American Miller’s Association, and the American Bakers Association, argued that the evidence supporting current DON guidelines is sufficient and that DON reduction efforts should focus instead on controlling Fusarium Head Blight. The full text of the NTP proposal as well as the responses to it is available at the following website: http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v47je05.htm |