Occurrence of contaminants and food additives in the Portuguese food chain: data collection and transmission of official control samples to EFSA from 2017 to 2023

Brazão, Roberto; Ravasco, Francisco; Tomé, Sidney; Dias, Maria da Graça

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/9025

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Abstract(s)

Introduction: The collection of accurate, reliable and comparable data on food and feed is essential to monitor their safety and to support informed dietary exposure and risk assessments and management, contributing to higher consumer safety and health. The National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) is responsible for gathering, harmonising and electronically submitting to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), according to their reporting requirements, the information on food and feed contaminants and food additives from the official control plans in Portugal and from studies performed in INSA laboratories. We aim to present the process of data collection and transmission to EFSA and the main results during the period 2017-2023 (samples collected in 2016-2022). Methodology: Annually, INSA gathers information on contaminants and additives from the official control plans of the Portuguese authorities and from INSA studies. This information was reported according to the EFSA Standard Sample Description for Food and Feed (SSD2), complemented by FoodEx2, a standardised system for classifying and describing food, to ensure data harmonisation, standardisation and quality. It were used EFSA’s Excel Tools and Catalogue Browser to facilitate the process. Results: Between 2017 and 2023, 62963 analytical results were gathered and transmitted to EFSA according to SSD2, almost entirely on contaminants (61054). These results correspond to 12214 food samples collected. During this period, of all the reported results evaluated (59021) only 0.2% (129) were non-compliant (6.3% (3942) were not evaluated because they corresponded to studies). Animal feed data were reported in 2023 but can only be accounted for next month. Conclusions: The use of the SSD2 and FoodEx2 data model and system and all other tools made available by EFSA ensure data harmonisation, standardisation, and overall quality, consistency, and reliability in the information reported. During the period under review, there was a high level of compliance (99.8%) in the results of samples collected under the Portuguese official control plans.

Keywords

Contaminants Food Additives Portuguese Food Chain Official Control Samples Data Collection and Transmission SSD2 EFSA Standard Sample Description Food and Feed Segurança Alimentar Portugal