Since the discovery of the fumonisins in 1988, extensive academic studies have generated much knowledge, including data on chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, methods of analysis, natural occurrence in food supplies, fate during various processing procedures, and human and animal exposures. These mycotoxins have also been assessed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and have twice been the subject of risk assessments by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The outcome of these investigations has been of a nature to alert risk managers to the necessity of controlling human exposure. However, the fumonisins occur mostly in maize, a world staple crop which is consumed in various communities at levels which can be as many as 100-fold different. Compounding the problem is the fact that maize is widely used as animal feed in many developed countries, whereas in Africa and some other developing countries, it is the primary food source. This contrast produces a problem for risk managers, partly solved at national level by the regulation of maximum tolerated levels (MTLs) applicable to individual countries. MTLs at an international level are currently under discussion at the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food. The divergence in use and consumption and the fact that maize in various regions of the world can also vary greatly in contamination levels, leads to a dilemma for setting such MTLs, which would need to be low to protect the high maize consumers, but might then cause rejection of high amounts of the world supply. Higher MTLs, acceptable to maize exporters, would only protect the low maize consumers. This dilemma may only be solved by accepting that harmonizing regulations for raw maize is problematic and a more nuanced approach may be required.

Since the discovery of the fumonisins in 1988, extensive academic studies have generated much knowledge, including data on chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, methods of analysis, natural occurrence in food supplies, fate during various processing procedures, and human and animal exposures. These mycotoxins have also been assessed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and have twice been the subject of risk assessments by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The outcome of these investigations has been of a nature to alert risk managers to the necessity of controlling human exposure. However, the fumonisins occur mostly in maize, a world staple crop which is consumed in various communities at levels which can be as many as 100-fold different. Compounding the problem is the fact that maize is widely used as animal feed in many developed countries, whereas in Africa and some other developing countries, it is the primary food source. This contrast produces a problem for risk managers, partly solved at national level by the regulation of maximum tolerated levels (MTLs) applicable to individual countries. MTLs at an international level are currently under discussion at the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food. The divergence in use and consumption and the fact that maize in various regions of the world can also vary greatly in contamination levels, leads to a dilemma for setting such MTLs, which would need to be low to protect the high maize consumers, but might then cause rejection of high amounts of the world supply. Higher MTLs, acceptable to maize exporters, would only protect the low maize consumers. This dilemma may only be solved by accepting that harmonizing regulations for raw maize is problematic and a more nuanced approach may be required.

Meatborne parasites pose significant public health concerns and lead to substantial economic losses. Decisions regarding the introduction of risk-based control strategies to manage these parasites depend on the availability of robust and comparable economic data. To understand the current economic evidence available on meatborne parasite control, a scoping study was conducted to provide recommendations on optimal investment. This study is a part of the COST Action CA18105 (Risk-based Meat Inspection and Integrated Meat Safety Assurance [RIBMINS]), which supports the development and implementation of risk-based meat inspection programs across the EU and partner countries. This study synthesized available evidence published between January 1, 1980, and April 1, 2022, on interventions for controlling four meatborne parasites (<i>Taenia saginata</i>, <i>Taenia solium</i>, <i>T. gondii</i>, and <i>Trichinella spiralis</i>) where economic analyses had been conducted in COST Action CA18105-affiliated countries. We considered interventions conducted at any node within meat value chains, including those undertaken by health systems targeting consumers. Twelve relevant articles related to eleven distinct studies were identified. The outcomes of economic analyses were recorded, and a critical appraisal of these studies was carried out. The economic data identified have been summarized narratively, and this scoping review has revealed a scarcity of economic data on which to base decisions regarding meatborne parasite control and a lack of standardization in the approaches used for economic analysis. We recommend consensus building among researchers working in the food safety assurance space to standardize the methods and reporting of economic analysis of interventions, similar to efforts that have been made in the health economics space.

International audience | Meatborne parasites pose significant public health concerns and lead to substantial economic losses. Decisions regarding the introduction of risk-based control strategies to manage these parasites depend on the availability of robust and comparable economic data. To understand the current economic evidence available on meatborne parasite control, a scoping study was conducted to provide recommendations on optimal investment. This study is a part of the COST Action CA18105 (Risk-based Meat Inspection and Integrated Meat Safety Assurance [RIBMINS]), which supports the development and implementation of risk-based meat inspection programs across the EU and partner countries. This study synthesized available evidence published between January 1, 1980, and April 1, 2022, on interventions for controlling four meatborne parasites (Taenia saginata, Taenia solium, T. gondii, and Trichinella spiralis) where economic analyses had been conducted in COST Action CA18105-affiliated countries. We considered interventions conducted at any node within meat value chains, including those undertaken by health systems targeting consumers. Twelve relevant articles related to eleven distinct studies were identified. The outcomes of economic analyses were recorded, and a critical appraisal of these studies was carried out. The economic data identified have been summarized narratively, and this scoping review has revealed a scarcity of economic data on which to base decisions regarding meatborne parasite control and a lack of standardization in the approaches used for economic analysis. We recommend consensus building among researchers working in the food safety assurance space to standardize the methods and reporting of economic analysis of interventions, similar to efforts that have been made in the health economics space.