Christopher Weidner, Jakob Frenzel, Daniela Bartsch, Hans-Ulrich Waiblinger, Joachim Mankertz
{"title":"Guideline for the verification of digital PCR methods in analytical GMO testing","authors":"Christopher Weidner, Jakob Frenzel, Daniela Bartsch, Hans-Ulrich Waiblinger, Joachim Mankertz","doi":"10.1007/s00003-024-01516-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00003-024-01516-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The international working group “Development of methods for identification of foodstuffs produced by means of genetic engineering techniques” was established pursuant to § 64 of the German Food and Feed Code (LFGB). It has developed a guideline for implementing and verifying digital PCR methods previously validated as real-time PCR techniques. While event-specific methods in testing of genetically modified organisms (GMO) have traditionally relied on real-time PCR, new digital PCR technologies offer significant advantages and therefore, leading to an increased use by control laboratories. This guideline provides practical recommendations for transferring the real-time PCR to digital PCR and for verifying the digital PCR method. The guideline is applicable to analysis of GMO in food, feed and seed and is freely available on the website of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":622,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety","volume":"19 3","pages":"335 - 337"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00003-024-01516-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141529502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Niklas Lindekamp, Stefan Weigel, Benjamin Sachse, Bernd Schäfer, Sascha Rohn, Nadja Triesch
{"title":"Comprehensive analysis of 19 cannabinoids in commercial CBD oils: concentrations, profiles, and safety implications","authors":"Niklas Lindekamp, Stefan Weigel, Benjamin Sachse, Bernd Schäfer, Sascha Rohn, Nadja Triesch","doi":"10.1007/s00003-024-01513-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00003-024-01513-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nineteen cannabinoids, including Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), were quantified in 22 CBD oils, 2 CBG (cannabigerol) oils, and 2 CBN (cannabinol) oils, marketed as food supplements, aroma oils, or cosmetic preparations. Analyses were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The declared concentrations of CBD (or CBG, CBN) in the oils ranged from 2.5 to 20%. Actual concentrations compared to declared concentrations ranged from 81 to 226%. CBD concentrations of up to 9 mg per drop were found. Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC was detected in 20 of 26 samples, with concentrations ranging from 5 to 1576 mg/kg (mean = 536 mg/kg). Considering the highest daily intake suggested by one manufacturer (20 drops) and a body weight of 70 kg, the measured Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC concentration in 50% (n = 13) of the products would exceed the acute reference dose (ARfD) of 1 µg/kg body weight (bw) derived for Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). For 7 samples, only 2 drops of oil would be sufficient to exceed the ARfD of Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":622,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety","volume":"19 3","pages":"259 - 267"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00003-024-01513-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141529504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frauke Kirsch, Eva-Maria Kröner, Robert Lange, Julia Niemeyer, Miriam Laible, Julia Seidel, Katrin Paulus, Annette Stephani, Sandra Tamosaite, Katja Dünnebier
{"title":"Amtliche Untersuchungsergebnisse von Einweg-E-Zigaretten aus dem Jahr 2022 in Deutschland","authors":"Frauke Kirsch, Eva-Maria Kröner, Robert Lange, Julia Niemeyer, Miriam Laible, Julia Seidel, Katrin Paulus, Annette Stephani, Sandra Tamosaite, Katja Dünnebier","doi":"10.1007/s00003-024-01510-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00003-024-01510-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Gesetzliche Regelungen legen fest, welchen Vorgaben E-Zigaretten entsprechen müssen, damit sie rechtmäßig in Verkehr gebracht werden können. Diese Regeln gelten auch für Einweg-E-Zigaretten, deren Nutzung insbesondere unter Jugendlichen verbreitet ist. Im Rahmen amtlicher Untersuchungen in verschiedenen deutschen Bundesländern wurden im Jahr 2022 bei 250 Einweg-E-Zigaretten einige dieser rechtlichen Vorgaben mit Blick auf die Verkehrsfähigkeit untersucht. Neben der Kennzeichnung (Nikotingehalt, Füllvolumen/Zuganzahl, Nikotinwarnhinweise, Beipackzettel, Gefahrstoffkennzeichnung) wurden auch die Produktsicherheit (Kindersicherung) sowie Aspekte der Täuschung von Verbraucherinnen und Verbrauchern und die Erfüllung der Meldepflicht im einheitlichen elektronischen Portal der EU (EU-CEG) (https://health.ec.europa.eu/eu-common-entry-gate-eu-ceg/providing-information-tobacco-products-e-cigarettes-and-refill-containers-eu-common-entry-gate-eu_de%20%20Zugriff:%2013.05.2024) betrachtet. Keine der untersuchten Einweg-E-Zigaretten erwies sich als verkehrsfähig, da mindestens bei einem beanstandungsfähigen Kriterium erhebliche Mängel festgestellt wurden.</p>","PeriodicalId":622,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety","volume":"19 3","pages":"339 - 348"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00003-024-01510-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141366740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Malawi’s ‘anything goes’ food market: weak regulations on nutrition and health claims","authors":"Rutendo Bell, Aggrey Pemba Gama, Limbikani Matumba","doi":"10.1007/s00003-024-01509-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00003-024-01509-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Regulations on nutrition and health claims are useful to protect consumers from deceptive practices of unscrupulous food manufacturers. Consumer protection is best achieved when relevant regulations are available and enforced. So far, no study has analyzed the robustness of regulations on nutrition and health claims in Malawi. In the present study, Malawi’s regulation was compared with Codex Alimentarius as well as European, U.S American, and the Republic of South Africa’s (RSA) regulations on nutrition and health claims. The study revealed that Malawi does not have regulations or guidelines on health claims and therefore, any health claim can be made. Likewise, Malawi’s regulation on nutrition claims was found to be the least demanding and less elaborate. Out of 11 nutrition claims related requirements, the Malawi regulation satisfied only 3. The lack of comprehensive nutrition and health claims regulations in Malawi may give an opportunity to dishonest manufacturers to mislead and deceive consumers. False claims can also derail government’s efforts towards addressing some nutrient deficiencies through food fortification programs. Currently, it is difficult to effectively regulate nutrition and health claims in Malawi. Therefore, the findings are a wake-up call for Malawi and other countries that may be in a similar situation to take the necessary remedial actions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":622,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety","volume":"19 3","pages":"303 - 307"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140811081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christian J. Kuster, Felix M. Kluxen, Edgars Felkers, Neil Morgan, Nicola J. Hewitt, Julien Durand-Reville
{"title":"Efficiency of working coveralls and chemical resistant gloves in reducing operator exposure to pesticides","authors":"Christian J. Kuster, Felix M. Kluxen, Edgars Felkers, Neil Morgan, Nicola J. Hewitt, Julien Durand-Reville","doi":"10.1007/s00003-024-01506-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00003-024-01506-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used to reduce exposure when working with chemicals. For pesticides, exposure scenarios comprise mixing and loading (M&L) and application. The exposure prediction model recommended by European regulatory agencies for operator risk assessments—the Agricultural Operator Exposure Model (AOEM) – is based on 48 operator exposure studies involving over 500 professional operators from 10 European countries in typical working situations to assess exposure under realistic field conditions. We used the AOEM data to assess the efficiency of exposure reduction resulting from wearing chemical-resistant nitrile gloves and non-certified working coveralls during M&L (tank and backpack sprayer), applications using groundboom and airblast spraying, and outdoor and indoor (greenhouse) applications using handheld sprayers. All studies indicated consistent and high exposure reduction > 90% for gloves and non-certified coveralls across all investigated scenarios. Exceptions were almost exclusively observed when an operator incorrectly used the PPE. The mean exposure reduction from all operators, including those that used PPE incorrectly, was 95.0% for gloves and 96.4% for polyester/cotton working coveralls during M&L, and 91.1% for gloves and 94.9% for non-certified coveralls during all application scenarios. This analysis confirms the essential role of PPE and non-certified working coveralls in reducing operator exposure to pesticides. Outliers indicate that operators need to be properly trained and adhere to label instructions to apply pesticides according to good agricultural practices.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":622,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety","volume":"19 2","pages":"155 - 164"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00003-024-01506-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140656168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marie von Meyer-Höfer, Monika Hartmann, Peter Kenning, Jörg Luy, Marcus Mergenthaler, Jutta Roosen, Achim Spiller, Inken Christoph-Schulz
{"title":"SocialLab: Durch Forschung und Zusammenarbeit hin zu einer nachhaltigen landwirtschaftlichen Nutztierhaltung","authors":"Marie von Meyer-Höfer, Monika Hartmann, Peter Kenning, Jörg Luy, Marcus Mergenthaler, Jutta Roosen, Achim Spiller, Inken Christoph-Schulz","doi":"10.1007/s00003-024-01484-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00003-024-01484-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Das Projekt SocialLab, das im Jahr 2012 ins Leben gerufen wurde, zielt darauf ab, die Notwendigkeit von Verbesserungen in landwirtschaftlichen Nutztierhaltungssystemen, sowohl aus wissenschaftlicher als auch aus gesellschaftlicher Sicht anzugehen. Denn falls umfassende Veränderungen hin zu mehr Nachhaltigkeit bei der Produktion tierischer Lebensmittel nicht erreicht werden, besteht die Gefahr für die gesamte Branche, dass die gesellschaftliche Akzeptanz für tierische Lebensmittel verloren geht. Das Projekt verwendet einen multidisziplinären und partizipativen Ansatz und bezieht Verbraucherinnen und Verbraucher, landwirtschaftliche Betriebe, den Einzelhandel und Interessenvertretungen ein, um Erkenntnisse zu sammeln und Empfehlungen für Politik, Praxis und Forschung zu formulieren. Die Ergebnisse von SocialLab II sind in der gesamten landwirtschaftlichen Wertschöpfungskette von Bedeutung: Landwirtschaftliche Betriebe erhalten Einblicke in markt- und gesellschaftliche Anforderungen, was ihr Vertrauen in die Gestaltung neuer Tierhaltungssysteme stärken könnte. Darüber hinaus bietet SocialLab II ein Monitoring-Tool für politische Entscheidungsträger, um Veränderungen in der gesellschaftlichen Wahrnehmung und Akzeptanz der Nutztierhaltung zu messen. Dieses Tool ermöglicht auch eine Anleitung zur Gestaltung des rechtlichen Rahmens für die Nutztierhaltung. Der Einzelhandelssektor kann von den Einblicken zum Einfluss von Preisstrategien und Tierwohl-Labels auf das Kaufverhalten der Verbraucherinnen und Verbraucher profitieren. Zusammengefasst bietet die Infrastruktur von SocialLab die Gelegenheit für eine evidenzbasierte, partizipative, multidisziplinäre und situationsflexible Beteiligung an der Transformation der Nutztierhaltung in Deutschland.</p>","PeriodicalId":622,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety","volume":"19 1 supplement","pages":"1 - 6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00003-024-01484-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140668301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Inken Christoph-Schulz, Ivica Faletar, Monika Hartmann, Peter Kenning, Jörg Luy, Marcus Mergenthaler, Jutta Roosen, Achim Spiller, Marie von Meyer-Höfer
{"title":"Arbeitspaket 1: Monitoring der gesellschaftlichen Akzeptanz der Nutztierhaltung","authors":"Inken Christoph-Schulz, Ivica Faletar, Monika Hartmann, Peter Kenning, Jörg Luy, Marcus Mergenthaler, Jutta Roosen, Achim Spiller, Marie von Meyer-Höfer","doi":"10.1007/s00003-024-01485-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00003-024-01485-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The aim of the first work package (WP 1) of SocialLab II was to establish a monitoring system for framework conditions that influence the development of social criticism and acceptance of livestock farming. Based on the results of SocialLab I (Christoph-Schulz et al., J Consum Prot Food Saf 13:145–236, 2018), the aim was to establish a long-term longitudinal study. The monitoring was carried out, set up and tested online with a total of 4 survey waves and representative samples of consumers. In addition, farmers and retailers were surveyed. This enabled the development and validation of a survey tool that will allow the German Ministry of Agriculture to conduct surveys at regular intervals on the following topics that are important in the societal debate on the further development of livestock farming.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":622,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety","volume":"19 1 supplement","pages":"7 - 11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00003-024-01485-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140674215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}