Current challenges in monitoring biotoxins for human and animal health

Scientists from the JRC and US-FDA have reviewed and summarised current challenges in biotoxin monitoring and proposed strategies for improving efficiency in food control laboratories. The main focus was on the developments from prototype methods to ready-to-use methods for end-users, as well as novel ways of interpreting analytical performance data from recent studies in a simplified way.

Food monitoring for health and consumer protection is often considered an "orphan" activity as it is perceived as predominantly costly for all stakeholders in the food chain. Assessing the impact of the lack or inefficient food control system is difficult; it becomes only apparent during food scandals or at worst, with significant latency, such as increased cancer rates or endocrine effects. Strict legislative maximum limits allowed in certain food products together with appropriate food monitoring programmes have most likely prevented acute intoxication scenarios in the countries concerned . Nonetheless, it is necessary to streamline procedures in analytical laboratories to lower costs while improving efficiency. In particular, new techniques and new ways of data acquisition play a key role in this aspect. Currently, many novel analytical techniques shape, from "prototype" methods to ready-to-use methods for food and feed monitoring are used, while the awareness of new biotoxins on our plate grows in parallel. This is partly due to changes in agriculture and new – more exotic - types of food on our plate. Also, known contamination patterns change their shape in terms of new products susceptible to contamination, or higher prevalence is observed in products initially less frequently contaminated. One reason is thought to be climatic change and migration of invasive organisms.

Further information: Current challenges in monitoring biotoxins for human and animal health