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2003/04 New Zealand Total Diet Survey Decision on Analytes - Core and Add-on's - March 2003
- Background
- 2003/04 NZTDS Core analytes
- Additions to the 2003/04 NZTDS
- Work not to be part of 2003/04 NZTDS
The following decisions have been made by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) on the analytes to be included in the 2003/04 New Zealand Total Diet Survey (NZTDS). These decisions are based on the written comments received on the proposal document (circulated December 2002), the discussions at the 13 February meeting, follow-up discussions within NZFSA and with ESR. The reason for each decision is also given.
Background
A proposal document was sent to interested stakeholders in December 2002, written comments were invited by 30 January 2003, 17 were received. All comments were copied to all those that had been circulated the proposal document in advance of a meeting held in Wellington on 13 February 2003. This meeting was attended by 17 people from 16 organisations or interest groups and staff of the NZFSA and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR). Apologies were received from another 13 organisations.
2003/04 NZTDS Core analytes
The following are the specific tests that are intended to form the core of this and future NZTDSs. While there is always potential for aspects of the survey to move in or out of the core, it is expected that these core components would remain reasonably stable over the longer term.
· Gas chromatographic Multi-residue agricultural compounds - This will assess up to approximately 150 agricultural compound residues possible in the New Zealand diet.
· Dithiocarbamates (DTCs)
· Four contaminant elements - Arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg)
· Two nutrient elements - Iodine and Selenium
Decision: The core as proposed should proceed.
Reason: There is general support for the proposed core, no written adverse comments were received nor was there any substantive dissent expressed at the stakeholder meeting. The proposed core allows for continuity with previous NZTDS's and addresses all the matters considered in need of continued regular review.
Additions to the 2003/04 NZTDS
Additional funding have been provided by NZFSA to cater for stakeholder expectations. This additional funding is in the regions of $150,000. The following additional area's will be included in the 2003/04 NZTDS.
· Additional work on iodine, including moisture
Reason: There was wide and general support from stakeholders on the need to collect additional information on iodine and this was the first priority for additional funding identified by the 13 February meeting. Potential iodine deficiency is a known issue for New Zealand iodised table salt was introduced in 1924 to combat this problem. The last two NZTDS's have found decreasing levels of iodine intake. Studies into iodine status of adults and children (1997 and 1999) confirmed the re-emergence of mild iodine deficiency. While information is collected as part of the NZTDS core there is need for collection of further information. Conducting additional sampling and analysis for iodine in the 2003/04 NZTDS will directly contribute to development of the risk management strategies needed to address iodine deficiency and ensure the risk of excessive iodine is minimised. Including moisture will allow the results to be incorporated into the Food Composition Database.
· Widening the sampling base and more individual analysis of samples
Reason: There was wide and general support from stakeholders for increasing the sample base and the number of individual analysis, it was the second priority for additional funding identified by the 13 February meeting. A greater number of samples and increased individual analysis of samples will contribute directly to the robustness of the NZTDS. More individual analysis also facilitates the development of simulated diets for population sub-groups thus allowing a greater range of exposure estimates to be made. The number of samples and individual analysis has been one of the main areas of criticism levelled at previous NZTDSs.
· Inclusion of an acidic herbicide screen for compounds of specific interest /concern
Reason: Analysis for herbicides was at the third level of priority (along with glyphosate - see below) for those attending the 13 February meeting. These compounds require a separate screen from the gas-chromatographic multi-residue screen that is part of the core for the NZTDS. There is a high level of concern among some stakeholder groups about these compounds, in particular those only recently available for use. Inclusion of an acidic herbicide screen will allow data not previously collected to be included with the NZTDS and provides a mechanism for identification of any areas of concern that required additional follow-up work. A herbicide screen will provide information across the food list as opposed to glyphosate which by necessity would have to be focused on a limited number of foods.
· Analysis for iron with a focus on grain products that contain added iron - ie breakfast cereals, breads, biscuits
Reason: Collection of information on iron was agreed by the 13 February meeting as worthy of additional funding. New Zealand has allowed the fortification of several grain based foods since the mid-1990's. No information has been collected on the impact that this fortification is having on iron intakes. Collection of information on these specific products could be used together with information available in the Food Composition Database to estimate up to date information on iron intakes. The information collected in the 2003/04 NZTDS can also be used to update the Food Composition Database.
Further discussions with interested stakeholders
· There will be follow-up discussion (both internally and externally) on what specific compounds should be included in the Gas chromatographic multi-residue agricultural compounds analysis and the acidic herbicide screen.
Reason: Several people attending the stakeholder meeting expressed an interest in this aspect of the NZTDS. There is quite a high level of interest in what specific compounds are actually looked at, therefore continuing to involve interested stakeholders will maintain the level of transparency the NZSFA has introduced in the design and development of the 2003/04 NZTDS. The discussions should also ensure that as many compounds of concern as possible are included in these screens as allowed by the available funding.
Work not to be part of 2003/04 NZTDS
Glyphosate
Focused analysis for glyphosate was at the third level of priority (along with inclusion of an acidic herbicide screen) for those attending the 13 February meeting. This analysis would likely cost about the same as an acidic herbicide screen, but would only provide information on a limited range of foods. As noted above a herbicide screen gives more information that may be of use or interest to a wider range of stakeholder groups. While it may have been possible to undertake both some analysis for glyphosate and a limited acidic herbicide screen for the available funding such work would have involved a high degree of sample compositing thereby delivering only limited information.
It is expected that glyphosate will be considered for inclusion as a special constituent in the pesticide monitoring programme that is currently in development for possible commencement in the 2003/04 financial year. Investigation may focus on glyphosate residue in specific products (eg onions, potatoes, some grain products). It was therefore agreed that additional funding for specific analysis for glyphosate would not be sought for the 2003/04 NZTDS.
Other elements
Analysis for calcium, sodium, zinc, copper and other elements (manganese, magnesium) were identified as useful by those attending the 13 February meeting. However support for seeking additional funding was linked to analysis of iron being undertaken, because of the small marginal cost of adding other elements to the analysis once the test equipment is set up. In considering whether or not to seek additional funding for these other elements it was noted that the analysis for iron was to be limited to specific grain based products and would not be undertaken across the wider food list, therefore any analysis for other elements would only be on this limited range of foods. It was therefore agreed that additional funding for analysis of other elements would not be sought for the 2003/04 NZTDS.
Dioxin
Focused testing for dioxin was also a high priority for several groups attending the 13 February meeting and it was mentioned in several written comments. However it was the consensus view of the meeting that, given the need for a whole of government approach to dioxin monitoring and the high cost of current analytical methods, work in this area may be better approached as a separate project with specific funding rather than as part of a NZTDS. This view was confirmed and it was agreed that no specific work on dioxin will be included in the 2003/04 NZTDS.
Acrylamide; Bisphenol A or Alkylphenols
The meeting on 13 February reached the consensus opinion that work on nitrates/nitrites; Acrylamide; Bisphenol A or Alkylphenols may be better undertaken as separate projects, noting that for Acrylamide; Bisphenol A or Alkylphenols it may be necessary to complete development of analysis methodologies before including these compounds in a survey.
Since that meeting it has been agreed (NZFSA/ESR, 4 March 2003) that some work on the development of an analytical method for Acrylamide will likely proceed in the 2003/04 financial year. It is therefore confirmed that no work on Acrylamide nor any work on Bisphenol A or Alkylphenols will be done as part of the 2003/04 NZTDS.
Nitrates/nitrites and sulphites
It was noted at the 13 February meeting that some focused work on sulphites and nitrates/nitrites could be useful to complement the Australian survey that is currently underway.
The outcome of a focused survey could be directly useful for development of joint Australia/New Zealand food standards applicable to both Australia and New Zealand. It is expected that should the Australian survey identify matters of concern FSANZ will propose food standards to address these. New Zealand specific data needs to be available at about the same time as the Australian data to allow input to development of any foods standards.
NZFSA will consider a proposal for work in this are but this will not be a specific part of the 2003-04 NZTDS.
Other suggested additional areas
There was interest and support from some stakeholders at the 13 February meeting and in written submissions for work on other areas, including PAHs, aflatoxins; GM content; hormones/antibiotics in specific foods. It was the consensus view of the 13 February meeting that this work was either not a priority for this NZTDS or was outside the scope of a NZTDS. This view was confirmed by the NZFSA and no specific work will be undertaken on these areas in the 2003/04 NZTDS.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
14 March 2002
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
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