The report published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) shows a general decrease in dietary exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, comparing the period 2008-2010 with 2002-2004, of at least 16% and up to 79% for the general population. These toxic substances may cause cancer over time.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a new report on levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in food and feed. The report reveals a general decrease in dietary exposure to these dioxins, comparing the period 2008-2010 with 2002-2004, of at least 16% and up to 79% for the general population. These toxic substances can over time have adverse effects on human health and may cause cancer. In October 2011, the European Commission put forward four measures in order to prevent dioxin contamination in the food chain.

Feed and food of animal origin showed the highest levels of contamination. “Meat from eels” and “Fish liver and derived products” contained the highest average contamination levels for both dioxins and PCBs. Overall, fish, meat and dairy products were the most important food sources. However, their relative importance to dietary exposure depended on consumer age and country of residence. The major contributor to total exposure was milk and dairy products for almost all infant and toddler groups, whereas it was fish and seafood products for most of the other population groups.

The report also shows that exposure to non-dioxin-like PCBs, a sub-set of PCBs with different toxicological properties, also decreased. It recommends, on the other hand, that future monitoring targets those foods identified as main contributors to the total exposure of the population but for which the estimations of the contamination levels were not robust. In addition, full compliance with legislative requirements for analysis and reporting would facilitate future Europe-wide risk assessments, according to EFSA.