Ochratoxin A in food and urine: a nationwide Portuguese two-year study

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.C. Duarte ◽  
C.M. Lino ◽  
A. Pena
Keyword(s):  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Food Of Animal Origin ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
The Individual

Several toxic effects have been described after exposure to ochratoxin A (OTA), which can enter the human diet directly through food or through animal products via carry-over from contaminated feed. To assess the exposure of the Portuguese population to OTA, a study over a two-year period was conducted. It involved analysis of 472 morning urine samples from inhabitants of four regions, together with a survey of regional bread (738) and pork (254) samples. These foodstuffs are two staple foods in the Portuguese and Mediterranean diet that present a high and widespread consumption by the majority of the population. The bread samples analysed showed a low level of contamination, although the contamination range was broad and some of the samples exceeded the maximum level established in the European Union. Maize bread (broa), especially when made by mixing with rye, was the most contaminated, followed by whole grain-, rye- and wheat-based bread. However, the latter contributed more to OTA exposure, because they were more commonly consumed. Even though the occurrence was rather low, the average OTA amount in pork was relatively high compared to previous national and other surveys. The observed high within-subject variability of OTA in urine limited the use of this biomarker of exposure at the individual level, but not on a population or subgroup of subjects scale. Among the studied population, a widespread exposure was confirmed by the high frequency of OTA contamination in urine, although characterised by a low average contamination level. Independent of region or population, pork appears to be the main contributor to the daily OTA intake in Portugal. These data were clearly in contrast with previous studies showing that cereals and their derived products were the major contributors, while food of animal origin only contributed a small part to the total human dietary OTA exposure.

Occurrence of chemical contaminants in animal products during 1999–2016 in the Czech Republic

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (9) ◽  
pp. 2142-2154
Author(s):  
Martina Tunegová ◽  
Eva Samková ◽  
Lucie Hasoňová ◽  
Marcela Klimešová ◽  
Aneta Marková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Chemical Contaminants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Of Animal Origin ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Eu

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the results of inspections carried out by the State Veterinary Administration (SVA) of Czech Republic (CR) for the occurrence of chemical contaminants in animal products before and after CR entered the European Union (EU). Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from e-databases of the SVA from 1999–2016 and sorted into categories (game animals and fish; livestock; food and raw material of animal origin) and time periods (one before entry and two after entry of CR to the EU). Analyses of the samples were categorized as “positive samples” (any presence of contaminants) and “samples above the MRL” (presence of contaminants exceeding the maximum residue levels). Findings Results showed a significant decrease in the number of positive findings of contaminants during the monitored years 1999–2016, especially after CR entered the EU. Most encouragingly, the number of samples that exceeded the MRL was less than 1 percent from all the tested samples of animal origin and, after entry to the EU, in one category (food and raw materials of animal origin) it was even less than 0.1 percent. Findings of banned substances indicate continued environmental contamination in CR; however, this remains a problem in most of Europe due to their extensive use in the past and slow degradation. Originality/value This paper provides an overview of the occurrence of chemical contaminants and their levels in food of animal origin in view of the changing legislative requirements before and after CR entered the EU.

Responding to the increasing global demand for animal products: implications for the livelihoods of livestock producers in developing countries

2004 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 1-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Thomas ◽  
D. Rangnekar
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Food Of Animal Origin ◽  
Global Demand

Livestock production currently accounts for some 40% of the gross value of world agricultural production, and its share is rising (FAO, 2002). Livestock production is the largest user of agricultural land; directly through grazing of pastures and indirectly through the production of forage crops and other feeds. Over the next 20 years, there will be a massive increase in demand for food of animal origin in developing countries, and this increase will be greater than for either the major cereals or roots and tubers (IFPRI, 1995; Delgado et al., 1999).

scholarly journals Taking Full Advantage of Modelling to Better Assess Environmental Risk Due to Xenobiotics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandrine Charles ◽  
Aude Ratier ◽  
Virgile Baudrot ◽  
Gauthier Multari ◽  
Aurélie Siberchicot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Time Dimension ◽  
New Era ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Regulatory Bodies ◽  
On Line ◽  
The Individual ◽  
User Friendly

Abstract In the European Union, more than 100,000 man-made chemical substances are awaiting an environmental risk assessment (ERA). Simultaneously, ERA of chemicals has now entered a new era. Indeed, recent recommendations from regulatory bodies underline a crucial need for the use of mechanistic effect models, allowing assessments that are not only ecologically relevant, but also more integrative, consistent and efficient. At the individual level, toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TKTD) models are particularly encouraged for the regulatory assessment of pesticide-related risks on aquatic organisms. In this paper, we first propose a brief review of classical dose-response models to put into light the on-line MOSAIC tool offering all necessary services in a turnkey web platform whatever the type of data to analyze. Then, we focus on the necessity to account for the time-dimension of the exposure by illustrating how MOSAIC can support a robust calculation of bioaccumulation factors. At last, we show how MOSAIC can be of valuable help to fully complete the EFSA workflow regarding the use of TKTD models, especially with GUTS models, providing a user-friendly interface for calibrating, validating and predicting survival over time under any time-variable exposure scenario of interest. Our conclusion proposes a few lines of thought for an even easier use of modelling in ERA.

scholarly journals Job separation rates of immigrants and natives in the UK during the Great Recession

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1036-1054
Author(s):  
Dafni Papoutsaki
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Market Outcomes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
The Business Cycle ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the probability of job separations of immigrants and natives in the UK before and during the economic crisis of 2008. Design/methodology/approach A mixed proportional hazard duration model with a semi-parametric piecewise constant baseline hazard is used on a data sample of inflows into employment. Findings It is found that the crisis increased the probability of exits to unemployment for all groups, while immigrants from the new countries of the European Union seemed to have the lowest hazard towards unemployment even after controlling for their demographic and labour market characteristics. More specifically, even when we account for the fact that they tend to cluster in jobs that are most vulnerable to the business cycle, they are still less likely to exit dependent employment than natives. However, this migrant group is adversely affected by the crisis the most. Research limitations/implications Possible implications of out-migration of the lower performers are discussed. Originality/value This paper makes use of the panel element of the UK Quarterly Labour Force Survey, and uses duration analysis on the individual level to assess the labour market outcomes of natives and immigrants in the UK.

8.1 Appraisal and finance of intensive animal production schemes

1981 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 439-448
Author(s):  
W. Schaefer-Kehnert
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Income Level ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Balance Sheets ◽  
Food Of Animal Origin ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Wide Experience ◽  
The One

It is a world-wide experience that economic growth creates an increasing demand for food of animal origin, and, once a certain income level is reached, the demand for food of vegetable origin shrinks. Therefore, the proportion of animal products in the human diet is almost an indicator of the income level achieved by certain population groups or whole countries (excluding vegetarian societies on the one hand and pastoral societies on the other). FAO's provisional food balance sheets (FAO, 1977) indicate that, in most low income countries, animal products contribute less than 10% to total energy intake, whereas in high income countries they contribute almost 50%

scholarly journals Beyond the formal/informal employment dualism: evaluating individual- and country-level variations in the commonality of quasi-formal employment

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Williams ◽  
Besnik Krasniqi
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
Informal Institutions ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Formal Employment ◽  
The Individual

PurposeTo transcend the view of employment as either formal or informal, this paper evaluates the prevalence of quasi-formal employment where formal employers pay formal employees an unreported (“envelope”) wage in addition to their formal reported salary. To explain the individual-level variations in quasi-formal employment, the “marginalisation” thesis is evaluated that this practice is more prevalent among vulnerable groups and to explain the country-level variations, and a neo-institutionalist theory is evaluated that it is more prevalent where formal institutional failures lead to an asymmetry between the formal laws and regulations and the unwritten socially shared rules of informal institutions.Design/methodology/approachTo evaluate the individual- and country-level variations in the prevalence of quasi-formal employment, a multi-level logistic regression is provided of data from special 2019 Eurobarometer survey 92.1 involving 11,793 interviews with employees across 28 European countries (the 27 member states of the European Union and the United Kingdom).FindingsOf the 3.5% of employees (1 in 28) who receive under-reported salaries, the marginalisation thesis is supported that it is largely vulnerable population groups. So too is the neo-institutionalist explanation that quasi-formal employment is more common in countries where the non-alignment of formal and informal institutions is greater, with the formal institutional failings producing this identified as lower levels of economic development, less modernised state bureaucracies and lower levels of taxation and social protection.Practical implicationsThe policy implication is that tackling quasi-formal employment requires not only enforcement authorities to improve the risk of detection of this illegal wage practice but also governments to change wider macro-level structural conditions. These are outlined.Originality/valueContemporary new evidence is provided of the prevalence of quasi-formal employment along with how this illegal wage practice can be explained and tackled.

scholarly journals Ochratoxin A in foods of animal origin

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 313 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. GOVARIS (Α. ΓΚΟΒΑΡΗΣ) ◽  
N. SOLOMAKOS (Ν. ΣΟΛΩΜΑΚΟΣ) ◽  
A. PAXARA (Α. ΠΕΞΑΡΑ)
Keyword(s):  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
Aspergillus Ochraceus ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽  
Toxic Metabolite ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Indirect Transmission ◽  
Carcinogenic Action ◽  
Pork Kidney ◽  
Endemic Nephropathy

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by the fungi Aspergillus ochraceus καιPénicillium verrucosum. OTA shows a nephrotoxic, teratogenic, immunotoxic and carcinogenic action against animals and humans. In humans, OTA is implicated in the aetiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy. OTA can be mainly found in foods of animal origin as a result of indirect transmission from animals exposed to naturally contaminated feed. Results from research works in various countries showed that the  pork meat was the most important source of human contamination with OTA, as compared to other products of animal origin. Sausages containing blood or pork kidney presented the highest amounts of OTA among other food products of animal origin. The presence of OTA in cow's milk was rather low, since the bacteria in the rumen of ruminants are capable of splitting OTA to ochratoxin a, which is generally accepted as no toxic metabolite. The European Union has not yet set limits of ochratoxin in foods of animal origin, in contrast to these of limits in foods of plant origin.

scholarly journals Fatty Acid Profile and Enterolactone Content of Early and Commercial Milk of Dairy Cows Supplemented with Flaked Flaxseed during the Dry Period

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2394
Author(s):  
Lucia Bailoni ◽  
Laura Da Dalt ◽  
Gianfranco Gabai ◽  
Elisa Giaretta ◽  
Nadia Guzzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Food Of Animal Origin ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Enrich Food ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
Carry Over Effect

Various supplementations in animal feeding have been investigate in order to enrich food of animal origin with n-3 fatty acids. Although the effects of flaxseeds inclusion in diets for lactating dairy have already been assessed, few studies have focused on this n-3 source supplementation during the transition period. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of flacked flaxseed (200 g/head/day; 2.13% DM) dietary treatment during the dry period on milk yield and quality in the 30 days after calving. In addition, the enterolactone content in plasma (before and after calving) and in milk of cows fed diets supplemented or not with flaxseed was considered. The study demonstrated that the carry-over effect on the milk profile of C18:2, C18:3 n-3, and C20:5 n-3 was significantly higher in flaxseed diet than in the control one at 4th day of lactation. A significant increase of enterolactone on milk from flaxseed fed cows was observed only at 15 sampling day. The quick modification in fatty acid (FA) profile of the milk in the first few days of lactation suggests that the carry over effect from pre-calving flaxseed feeding at this concentration was very short lasting.

scholarly journals Trends and correlates of the public’s perception of healthcare systems in the European Union: a multilevel analysis of Eurobarometer survey data from 2009 to 2013

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e018178 ◽  
Author(s):  
AlJohara M AlSaud ◽  
Henock B Taddese ◽  
Filippos T Filippidis
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
National Income ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Individual

ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to assess trends in public perceptions of health systems in 27 European Union (EU) member states following the financial crisis (2009–2013), in order to discuss observed changes in the context of the financial crisis.DesignRepeated cross-sectional studies.Setting27 EU countries.ParticipantsEU citizens aged 15 years and older.MethodsThe study mainly uses the Eurobarometer Social Climate Survey, conducted annually between 2009 and 2013, thereby analysing 116 706 observations. A multilevel logistic regression was carried out to analyse trends over time and the factors associated with citizens’ perceptions of their healthcare systems.ResultsEuropeans generally exhibit positive perceptions of their national healthcare systems, 64.0% (95% CI 63.6% to 64.4%). However, we observed a significant drop in positive perceptions in the years following the crisis, especially within countries most affected by the crisis. Concerning fiscal characteristics, wealthier countries and those dedicating higher proportion of their national income to health were more likely to maintain positive perceptions. At the individual level, perceptions of healthcare systems were significantly associated with respondents’ self-perceptions of their social status, financial capacity and overall satisfaction in life.ConclusionsOur finding confirms previous observations that citizens’ perceptions of their healthcare systems may reflect their overall prospects within the broader socioeconomic systems they live in; which have in turn been affected by the financial crisis and the policy measures instituted in response.

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