Risk assessment of toxic contaminants in animal feed.
2010
Mantovani, A. | Frazzoli, C.
Feed contaminants are a broad issue ranging from undesirable or unauthorized feed components or additives through to environmental pollutants and to contaminants related to specific steps of food production, such as storage or cross-contamination. In many cases, e.g. most mycotoxins and plant-derived compounds, feed contaminants may pose a risk mostly for farm animal welfare; however, feeds can also be a major vehicle for the presence of bioaccumulating pollutants in human diet, especially for vulnerable farm animal productions, such as aquaculture or grazing ruminants. Critical risk assessment issues include the characterization of toxicological hazards, the possible pathways of feed contamination and the carry-over of parent compound or metabolites to foods of animal origin as well as the pinpointing of situations that may require risk management measures. Some examples are considered in detail, taking into account the assessments performed by the European Food Safety Authority: cross-contamination by coccidiostats, the endocrine-disrupting mycotoxin zearalenone, the trace element Cr(III) and the persistent organic pollutant hexaclorobenzene. Emerging issues, such as the widespread, bioaccumulating brominated flame retardants and the potentially undesirable high levels of phytooestrogens, are also discussed. Diagnostic health risk assessment, considered as a tool for decision-making in field situations, is also reviewed with regard to unavoidable, long-standing (e.g. methylmercury) and short-term contamination instances. Management of feed contaminants relies primarily on the implementation of good practice in feed production; specific research needs may target feed sources less prone to contamination as well as safe and effective detoxifying agents. Overall, the risk assessment of feed contaminants has a critical role in veterinary public health both as a basis to define the reference thresholds for prevention, as well as guidance for risk diagnosis and field intervention in contamination events.
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