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Report from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) 2019:16. Microplastics; occurrence, levels and implications for environment and human health related to food. Opinion of the Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment. Source at https://www.vkm.no/. The steering committee of VKM has self-initiated a mandate for an opinion on microplastics based on recently published international and/or national reports complemented with literature from December 2016 to February 2019. The mandate requested a summary of the state of knowledge on the presence of microplastics in the environment and the implications for the ecosystem, terrestrial and aquatic organisms, food production and human health. An overview of main national and international ongoing initiatives was also requested, and highlighting of data gaps where specific Norwegian data was needed.

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Source at https://vkm.no/ The goal of this report is to highlight research needs and data gaps that are of future importance for food safety and protection of the environment and thereby improve the national knowledge-base. This report is the latest in a series of reports on research needs and data gaps published periodically by the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM), former Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM), and thus seeks to highlight research needs and data gaps identified in and related to VKMs scientific opinions for 2016 and 2017 only. Målet med denne rapporten er å synliggjøre kunnskapsbehov som er viktige for å sikre trygg mat og beskyttelse av miljøet i årene som kommer, og forbedre den nasjonale kunnskapsbasen. Rapporten er den siste i en serie av rapporter om kunnskapsbehov publisert av Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø (VKM, tidligere Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet). Den løfter frem kunnskapsbehov som er identifisert i VKMs vitenskapelige uttalelser i perioden 2016 til 2017.

Source at https://vkm.no/ Summary report from VKM’s scientific opinions for 2016 - 2017The goal of this report is to highlight research needs and data gaps that are of future importance for food safety and protection of the environment and thereby improve the national knowledge base. This report is the latest in a series of reports on research needs and data gaps published periodically by the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM), former Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM), and thus seeks to highlight research needs and data gaps identified in and related to VKMs scientific opinions for 2016 and 2017 only.

Since 1986, the management of radioactive contamination in food and feed in Norway has been driven mainly by the Chernobyl Disaster follow-up. Monitoring and countermeasures are still in place to reduce the exposure to the population. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is in the process of revising the maximum levels (MLs) for radioactive substances in drinking water and food and establishing new ones where necessary (including for feed). These MLs are to be applicable in the management of the normal situation, immediately subsequent to any accidents, and possibly in the long-term follow-up period after accidents. As part of this process, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority requested the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety to assess the risk that radioactivity in food and feed poses to human health. More specifically, VKM was requested to address the following questions in the Terms of Reference (ToR): ToR1: What is the current health risk from radioactivity in food –food gathering and hunting included – to the whole population and specific groups in Norway? ToR2: What health risk would the current levels of caesium-137 measured in live reindeer and sheep pose to the whole population and specific groups, if no efforts were made to reduce them? ToR3: What would be the implication to the health risk if the ML for reindeer meat was reduced from 3000 to 1500 or 600 Bq/kg, respectively – for the whole population and for specific groups? ToR4: Would the procedure and the maximum levels laid down in the Euratom Treaty regulation on radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and feedstuffs following a nuclear accident be appropriate for managing similar scenarios in Norway?

Source at https://vkm.no/ The aim of the present report is to highlight research needs and data gaps that are of future importance for food safety and protection of biodiversity. The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) produces and communicates scientific opinions, i.e. risk-and risk-benefitassessments, with the main goal of securing food safety and protection of biodiversity.Food safety is one of the prerequisites for good health, and is on the agenda both nationally and internationally. Since food production, food products on the market and dietary habits as well as the presence of potentialhazardsare constantly changing, there is a continuous need for new knowledge to ensure safe food Målet med denne rapporten er å synliggjøre kunnskapsbehov som er viktige for å sikre trygg mat og opprettholdelse avbiologisk mangfold i årene som kommer.Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet (VKM) utarbeider og kommunisereruavhengige, vitenskapelige uttalelser, blant annet risikovurderinger og nytte-risikovurderinger. Hovedmålet til VKM er å sikre trygg mat og opprettholdelse av biologisk mangfold.Trygg mat er en av forutsetningene for god helseog vies mye oppmerksomhetbåde nasjonalt og internasjonalt. Stadige endringer i hvordan maten produseres, hvilke matvarer som er tilgjengelige, hva befolkningen spiser og hvilke potensielle farer som følger med maten skaper et kontinuerlig behov for ny kunnskap for å sikre at maten er trygg.

Related version: VKM Report 2016: 48 : https://vkm.no/download/18.7e19596115dabec04172717/1501849448865/30664700ba.pdf The aim of the present report is to highlight research needs and data gaps that are of future importance for food safety and protection of biodiversity. The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) produces and communicates scientific opinions, i.e. risk-and risk-benefitassessments, with the main goal of securing food safety and protection of biodiversity.

Organic plant production in 2012 covered 50 200 ha which is 5.1% of the total agricultural area of Norway. The country is on the northern frontier for commercial plant production with short growing season, low summer temperature, and in some districts precipitation above the optimum for crops. However, many hours of daylight during the summer months are positive for plant production. Very few Norwegian studies have compared organic and conventional plant production. Therefore, the evaluations of nutrient contents, plant health and environmental contaminants are mainly based on scientific publications from other countries of Europe and North America. The main sources of uncertainty in the evaluation are differences in climate, soil types and varieties cultivated in Norway and in the countries were comparative studies of organic and conventional agriculture have been performed.

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety performed the present assessment of the differences between organic and conventional foods and food production on plant health, animal health and welfare and human health at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. The work was divided into five parts: (I) Plant health and plant production, (II) Animal health and welfare, (III) Human health - nutrition and contaminants, (IV) Human health – hygiene and pathogens and (V) Human health - pesticide residues.

The two salts NaCl and KCl appear to function similarly in controlling growth of microorganisms in foods. However, present information is limited. As KCl, in the present context, may fully or partially replace NaCl at the same molarity, there should be no need to evaluate the consequences of different replacement scenarios further as the food safety most likely would not be altered. The microbiological part of this risk assessment only concerns possible effects of partial or full replacement of NaCl with KCl on the survival, growth or toxin production by food-borne bacteria. NaCl has an impact during processing of food. The preservative functionality of KCl has been shown to be equivalent to that of NaCl when calculated on molar basis (Bidlas&Lambert 2008) thus not increasing risk for survival, growth or toxin production by food-borne bacteria.. Irrespective of food group, NaCl can be fully or partially replaced by KCl at the same molarity, without altering microbiological food safety

Report from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) 2014:15. Benefit-risk assessment of fish and fish products in the Norwegian diet – an update. Source at https://www.vkm.no/. In September 2013, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority requested VKM to update relevant parts of the benefit-risk assessment of fish in the Norwegian diet published by VKM in 2006. The background for the request was new knowledge and data on the content of some nutrients and contaminants both for wild and farmed fish since 2006. The proportion of vegetable ingredients used in farmed fish feed has in recent years increased, and new national dietary surveys for adults and children have been conducted. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority referred to VKM’s report from 2006, which pointed out that the positive impact of fish consumption on public health was especially due to the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D in fish. Further, VKM concluded that the contaminants that could pose a potential risk to public health through fish consumption mainly were methylmercury, dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs). The request included a reassessment of fish consumption in Norway with focus on specific nutrients; n-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)), vitamin D, and the minerals iodine and selenium, and on specific contaminants; mercury, dioxins and dl-PCBs. VKM was asked to address the main changes in the use of raw materials in farmed fish feed and how these affect the levels of nutrients, mercury, dioxins and dl-PCBs and in fish feed. Further, VKM was asked to address to what extent levels of nutrients and contaminants in fish have changed since 2006, to describe these changes and estimate the human intake of the substances in question on the basis of recent dietary data. VKM was also requested to consider the benefits of eating fish with regard to the intake of nutrients and the risks associated with the intake of mercury, dioxins and dl-PCBs and comment on whether this change the conclusions from the report in 2006. Additionally, on the basis of updated knowledge, VKM was asked to comment whether other substances, like pesticide and residues of veterinary medicinal products, could affect the conclusions with regard to the impact on public health. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Directorate of Health will use the updated assessment as a basis for public recommendations concerning the consumption of fish and fish products.

Source at https://vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/benefitandriskassessmentofbreastmilkforinfanthealthinnorway.4.27ef9ca915e07938c3b2a6df.html. Breastmilk covers all the nutritional needs of the infant the first months of life, with the exception of vitamin D. In addition, breastmilk has a number of protective properties. However, as humans are exposed to polluting chemicals through food, air, water and skin contact, breastmilk also contains contaminants. Taking the present-day levels of contaminants in Norwegian breastmilk and the long duration of breastfeeding (12 months) in Norway into account, the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety concludes that contaminants poses a low risk to Norwegian infants, and that the benefits of breastmilk to Norwegian infants clearly outweigh the risk presented by contaminants.

The theoretical principles for the various types of combined toxic effects of multiple chemical exposures and the description of models for handling cases where such effects are likely to occur are still applicable as described in the VKM report from 2008. The conclusions presented in this report are still valid, but for some points precisions have been made.

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has on request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority performed a risk assessment of aluminium exposure though food and the use of cosmetic products in the Norwegian population. The assessment was performed by the VKM Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food and Cosmetics, and the VKM Panel on Contaminants.

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has on request of The Norwegian Food Safety Authority performed a risk assessment of furan intake in the Norwegian population based on the most recent national food consumption surveys. National occurrence data of furan concentrations in food were preferentially used in the risk assessment. When national data were lacking, VKM has used occurrence data of furan from other countries. The assessment has been performed by the VKM Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food and Cosmetics and the VKM Panel on Contaminants.

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The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has been asked by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to perform a health risk assessment on decomposition substances and oxidation products in fish oils intended for human consumption except pharmaceuticals. Seal and/or krill oil intended for human consumption might be included but in separate chapters. EU’s hygiene regulations for the production of fish oils intended for human consumption were strengthened from 2008 in the EU (from March 2010 in Norway), but concerns regarding the possible presence of decomposition substances and oxidation products in the oils and their possible consequences on human health were raised. In the request from the National Food Safety Authority, VKM was asked to include descriptions of the substances resulting from decomposition of the various raw material used for fish oil production, and the products formed during oxidation of marine oils. Additionally, a description of the substances formed and/or eliminated during the various processing steps in the production of marine oils intended for human consumption and to take raw material, processing conditions, storing and transporting conditions of raw material and fish oil into account. Depending on the detectability of the identified substances/products of concern in n-3 fatty acid food supplements, a qualitative, and if possible quantitative, health risk assessment should be performed. The main focus is on production of fish oil and on fish oil used as food supplement (i.e. in bottle or encapsulated). Other marine sources for oil production such as krill and seal blubber, as well as emulsions and microencapsulation of marine n-3 fatty acids used for fortification of regular food, are not evaluated in detail. Food supplements based on oil derived from the crustaceans Calanus finmarchicus, which is a growing business in Norway, has not been included. It was beyond the scope of this evaluation to address environmental contaminants in marine raw materials/oils and in final products. © Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet

Source at https://vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/acomprehensiveassessmentoffishandotherseafoodinthenorwegiandiet.4.72c3261615e09f2472f4b0c5.html. At the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has conducted an assessment of the nutritional benefits of consuming fish and other seafood, compared with the health risks associated with the intake of contaminants and other undesirable compounds that fish and other seafood may contain.

Triclosan is a widely used biocide. It is included in many contemporary consumer- and professional health-care products, particularly oral and dermal products, but also in household items including plastics, textiles and food packaging materials. Concerns have been raised regarding the widespread use of triclosan; both as regards the potential for selection of resistant bacterial strains that may confer cross-resistance to other antimicrobial agents and as regards the potential harm to the environment. Triclosan is classified as “very toxic to aquatic organisms” and “may cause long-term adverse effects to the environment” by the European Commission. In March 2004, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety to prepare an updated risk assessment of the use of triclosan in cosmetics, regarding development of resistance in pathogenic bacteria. The authority also asked for a comprehensive toxicological examination of the chemical with indication of the margin of safety as regards use in cosmetic products. In response, three assessments were initiated; one to address the risk for development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, one to address the toxicological aspects, and one to address ecotoxicological matters. From these three assessments, general conclusions have been drawn by the Scientific Committee based on the conclusions from the Panel on Biological Hazards and the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in contact with Food and Cosmetics.

32 samples of human breast milk taken in winter 1985/86 in three regions were analyzed for PCB, PCDD and PCDF. Study design and analytical procedures are described. No regional differences in PCB or toxic PCDD/ PCDF equivalent were found. Several PCDFs were higher in one region. All detected concentrations rank between the medium levels found in other countries.