The recent 18th session of the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF18) marked a significant stride in global food safety, successfully addressing a broad agenda focused on enhancing consumer protection. This pivotal gathering underscored the ongoing commitment to establish rigorous international standards concerning various harmful substances found in our food supply.
A key outcome of CCCF18 was the approval of two crucial new maximum limits (MLs) for the heavy metal lead. These limits, set at 2.5 mg/kg for dried bark spice and 2.0 mg/kg for dried culinary herbs, represent a proactive measure to control contaminants in food and will be integrated into the comprehensive CXS 193 standard, reinforcing stricter guidelines for product safety worldwide.
Further advancing its mandate, CCCF18 adopted critical sampling plans for total aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in specific spices, including nutmeg, dried chili, and paprika. These plans are designed to ensure accurate detection and control of these naturally occurring contaminants, reflecting a robust approach to mitigating risks associated with common food ingredients.
The committee also refined the existing Codex Code of Practice (CoP) for preventing and reducing aflatoxin contamination in peanuts (CXC 55). While this revised CoP was approved, the long-standing discussion on a maximum limit for total aflatoxins in ready-to-eat peanuts was discontinued, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive data and implementation time for the new prevention guidelines.
Important internal guidance documents were finalized, including a guide for Codex members and observers on data analysis for developing MLs and improving data collection for the WHO-GEMS/Food database. Additionally, numerical performance criteria for methods of analysis concerning total aflatoxins in various nuts and dried figs were endorsed, ensuring consistent and reliable testing protocols for food safety.
Looking ahead, CCCF18 initiated several new work items aimed at continuous improvement of food safety measures. This includes the revision of existing Codes of Practice on pyrrolizidine alkaloids (CXC 74) and Aflatoxin B1 in animal feed (CXC 45), along with the development of a new CoP on tropane alkaloids, demonstrating an adaptive response to emerging contaminant concerns.
The session also saw a revised priority list for risk assessment by the joint FAO/WHO JECFA expert committee, including substances like Dioxins, PFAS, Ethylene Oxide, and Bisphenols. Despite increasing demands for evaluations, the committee acknowledged resource limitations impacting JECFA’s ability to meet all requests for scientific advice on contaminants, highlighting the critical need for increased funding and support for these international standards bodies.
Discussions extended to the complex issue of cadmium contamination in all foods, with the draft Code of Practice returned for further elaboration to achieve consensus. Notably, text referring to health effects of radioactive substances after a nuclear accident was removed from the main standard (CXS 193), reflecting updated scientific consensus and focusing the standard on chemical and biological contaminants in food.
Finally, CCCF18 delved into other significant matters, such as the potential for future guidance on food safety aspects related to recycled plastic materials in food contact packaging, proposals for new CoPs for Ochratoxin A in dried fruits, and discussions on aligning maximum limits with analytical methods, all contributing to the overarching goal of global food safety and public health protection under the Codex Alimentarius framework.
