Codex Sets New Limits for Melamine Limits, Establishes Hygienic Measures
The United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission has set new limits for the amount of melamine allowed in baby formula, other foods, and animal feed without causing health problems.
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The Commission also came up with new hygienic measures for safer fresh salads and seafood and adopted new measures on sampling food for inspection and control analysis.
Melamine Levels Not Legally Binding, Allow Countries to Refuse Importation
While not legally binding, the Commission states the new levels allow countries to refuse to allow the importation of products with excessive levels of melamine1.
(The melamine standards, if introduced in national legislation, would contribute to the safety of foods and help guide international food trade.)
Melamine Level for Baby Formula, Other Foods, Animal Feed
The maximum melamine set for baby formula is one milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) and 2.5 mg/kg in other foods and animal feed, according to a news release issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), which along with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) jointly runs the UN Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Aflatoxin Levels Set for Brazil Nuts
For aflatoxins2, the Commission set maximum levels of 10 micrograms/kg for Brazil nuts and 15 micrograms/kg for shelled Brazil nuts, which are intended for further processing, while it also adopted a code of practice to prevent this contamination.
New Hygienic Measures for Salads and Seafood
The Commission came up with new hygienic measures for safer fresh salads and seafood. The new measures provide specific guidance for production, harvesting, packing, processing, storage, distribution, marketing and consumer education to reduce food safety risks associated with these products. The Commission also gave specific advice on how to control bacteria in seafood throughout the food chain.
New Measures on Sampling Food for Inspection
The Commission also adopted new measures on sampling food for inspection and control analysis. The new guidelines will make it possible to run tests to determine if foods are derived from modern biotechnology, to authenticate food varieties such as fish species and to establish the presence of allergens.
1Melamine is a chemical used in a variety of industrial processes, including the manufacture of plastics used for dishware, kitchenware and can coatings. Traces of it unavoidably get into food by contact without causing health problems, but the substance is toxic at high concentrations.
2Aflatoxins are carcinogenic fungal toxins that can contaminate corn, peanuts and other food crops such as tree nuts under certain conditions.