Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-10-28"
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- Re‐evaluation of argon (E 938) and helium (E 939) as food additivesPublication . EFSA FAF Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings); Castle, Laurence; Andreassen, Monica; Aquilina, Gabriele; Bastos, Maria; Boon, Polly; Fallico, Biagio; Fitzgerald, Reginald; Frutos Fernandez, Maria Jose; Grasl‐Kraupp, Bettina; Gundert‐Remy, Ursula; Gürtler, Rainer; Houdeau, Eric; Kurek, Marcin; Louro, Henriqueta; Morales, Patricia; Passamonti, Sabina; Multari, Salvatore; Rasinger, Josef Daniel; Rincon, Ana Maria; Vermeiren, Sam; Smeraldi, CamillaThe Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) provides a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of the two food additives argon (E 938) and helium (E 939). Argon (Ar) and helium (He) are two noble gases, highly stable single atoms. Their chemical inertness is well known. Their physicochemical properties have served as a basis for their previous evaluations by SCF and JECFA, which have considered the use of these food additives safe even in the absence of a toxicological evaluation. No business operator or other interested party provided information in response to the call for data published by EFSA to support the re-evaluation of these two food additives with respect to their identity and specifications, manufacturing process (including the identification and quantification of potential impurities) and how they are applied to food to exert their technological function. One business operator replied to the call for data issued by EFSA reporting use levels of E 938 as a packaging gas in one food category. Based on their physicochemical properties, both gases are considered by the Panel to be of low toxicological concern when used as food additives. No information was available on the potential presence of impurities of toxicological concern resulting from the manufacturing process(es) applied to the production of the food additives E 938 and E 939. The Panel however noted that a minimum purity of 99.0% is required to comply with existing specifications. The Panel concluded that the use of argon (E 938) and helium (E 939) as food additives does not raise a safety concern. The Panel recommended an amendment of the existing EU specifications to introduce the respective CAS numbers.
- Rapid response Task Force: addressing the detection of Aedes albopictus in Lisbon, PortugalPublication . Grau-Pujol, B.; Moreira, A.; Vieira Martins, J; Costa Osório, H; Ribeiro, L.; Dinis, A.; Sousa, C.; Alves, M. João; Leite, P. Pinto; Vasconcelos, P.Issue: The invasive Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are spreading in southern Europe and pose a heightened risk of mosquito-borne diseases, like Dengue and Chikungunya. On September 2023, A. albopictus was first identified in Lisbon through community-based surveillance and a multidisciplinary national Task Force (TF) was convened. Description of the problem: The TF included experts in epidemiology, entomology, environmental health, laboratory diagnosis, prevention and control and communication. The objectives were to i) confirm A.albopictus presence in Lisbon and adjust the risk assessment, ii) raise awareness and prevent mosquitoes’ spread, iii) revise national guidelines on arboviruses surveillance and control. During September-December 2023, the National Network for Vectors Surveillance (REVIVE) and the Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Institute sampled mosquito-prone habitats within 2km-radius of the detection point using QGIS software. They used snowball sampling to identify any new foci. They placed ovitraps for ongoing surveillance and conducted morphological analysis and xenomonitoring for pathogen DNA and RNA detection at the national reference laboratory. Results: By November 2023, A.albopictus was detected in two new foci. No mosquitoes tested positive for arboviruses, and no autochthonous cases of mosquito-borne diseases were identified. The TF developed national guidelines for vector prevention and control and awareness for arboviruses and trained municipality workers. To raise awareness, we communicated with experts and the public through existing channels and media. As of April 2024, no new foci have been detected. Lessons: Community-based surveillance and REVIVE approach were crucial for invasive A.albopictus detection and monitoring in Lisbon. Rapid multidisciplinary TF coordination may have been key for timely vector control.