Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feed
<p>The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on ergot alkaloids (EAs) in food and feed. EAs are produced by several members within the fungal orders of Hypocreales and Eurotiales. In Europe, <em>Clavicep...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-07-01
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| Series: | EFSA Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/2798.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818600155337719808 |
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| author | EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain |
| author_facet | EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain |
| author_sort | EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on ergot alkaloids (EAs) in food and feed. EAs are produced by several members within the fungal orders of Hypocreales and Eurotiales. In Europe, <em>Claviceps purpurea</em> is the most widespread <em>Claviceps</em> species within the Hypocreales. A total of 20 558 analytical results for EAs in 1 716 food, 496 feed and 67 unprocessed grain samples were considered in this opinion. Based on the EAs identified in sclerotia of <em>C. purpurea</em>, and recent literature data, the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) based its risk assessment on the main <em>C. purpurea</em> EAs, namely ergometrine, ergotamine, ergosine, ergocristine, ergocryptine (which is a mixture of α- and β- isomers), ergocornine, and the corresponding –inine epimers. The CONTAM Panel performed estimates of both chronic and acute exposure for various age groups across European countries. A BMDL<sub>10</sub> of 0.33 mg/kg b.w. per day was calculated for the incidence of tail muscular atrophy in a 13-week rat feeding study of ergotamine. This effect was considered representative of the vasoconstrictive effects of EAs and provided a suitable reference point for establishment of a group acute reference dose of 1 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) and a group tolerable daily intake of 0.6 μg/kg b.w. per day. The Panel concluded that whilst the available data do not indicate a concern for any population subgroup, the dietary exposure estimates relate to a limited number of food groups and a possible unknown contribution from other foods cannot be discounted. Estimates of exposure for livestock based on example diets and levels of EAs in cereal grains reported suggest that under normal conditions the risk of toxicosis is low.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:30:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-867662aa0cf641e487b0ca93b7f0b235 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1831-4732 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:30:59Z |
| publishDate | 2012-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EFSA Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-867662aa0cf641e487b0ca93b7f0b2352022-12-21T22:31:42ZengWileyEFSA Journal1831-47322012-07-0110710.2903/j.efsa.2012.2798Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feedEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain<p>The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on ergot alkaloids (EAs) in food and feed. EAs are produced by several members within the fungal orders of Hypocreales and Eurotiales. In Europe, <em>Claviceps purpurea</em> is the most widespread <em>Claviceps</em> species within the Hypocreales. A total of 20 558 analytical results for EAs in 1 716 food, 496 feed and 67 unprocessed grain samples were considered in this opinion. Based on the EAs identified in sclerotia of <em>C. purpurea</em>, and recent literature data, the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) based its risk assessment on the main <em>C. purpurea</em> EAs, namely ergometrine, ergotamine, ergosine, ergocristine, ergocryptine (which is a mixture of α- and β- isomers), ergocornine, and the corresponding –inine epimers. The CONTAM Panel performed estimates of both chronic and acute exposure for various age groups across European countries. A BMDL<sub>10</sub> of 0.33 mg/kg b.w. per day was calculated for the incidence of tail muscular atrophy in a 13-week rat feeding study of ergotamine. This effect was considered representative of the vasoconstrictive effects of EAs and provided a suitable reference point for establishment of a group acute reference dose of 1 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) and a group tolerable daily intake of 0.6 μg/kg b.w. per day. The Panel concluded that whilst the available data do not indicate a concern for any population subgroup, the dietary exposure estimates relate to a limited number of food groups and a possible unknown contribution from other foods cannot be discounted. Estimates of exposure for livestock based on example diets and levels of EAs in cereal grains reported suggest that under normal conditions the risk of toxicosis is low.</p>http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/2798.pdfErgot alkaloids (EAs)originchemistryanalysisexposurerisk assessmenthealth-based guidance value |
| spellingShingle | EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feed EFSA Journal Ergot alkaloids (EAs) origin chemistry analysis exposure risk assessment health-based guidance value |
| title | Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feed |
| title_full | Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feed |
| title_fullStr | Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feed |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feed |
| title_short | Scientific Opinion on Ergot alkaloids in food and feed |
| title_sort | scientific opinion on ergot alkaloids in food and feed |
| topic | Ergot alkaloids (EAs) origin chemistry analysis exposure risk assessment health-based guidance value |
| url | http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/2798.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT efsapaneloncontaminantsinthefoodchain scientificopiniononergotalkaloidsinfoodandfeed |