Request for data on biogenic amines in food
Background
Member States informed the EFSA Advisory Forum in June 2009 that the presence of certain levels of toxic biogenic amines in fermented food could be of concern. During the EFSA Network meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment also held in early June 2009, some Member States reported a recent increase of biogenic amines content in fermented food products.
Formation of biogenic amines can occur during food processing and storage as a result of bacterial activities. Consequently, higher amounts of certain amines may be found in food as a consequence of the use of poor quality raw materials, microbial contamination and inappropriate food processing conditions or microbial contamination and inadequate storage conditions. There is evidence that a decrease in the product hygienic quality corresponds to an increase of biogenic amines content. Therefore, a number of published studies explored the possibility of using the amine concentrations as a marker of process hygiene and food spoilage/quality.
Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 lays down food safety limits for histamine between 100 mg/kg (m) and 200 mg/kg (M) (n=9, c=2) in “fishery products from fish species associated with a high amount of histidine” and between 200 mg/kg (m) and 400 mg/kg (M) (n=9, c=2) for “fishery products which have undergone enzyme maturation treatment in brine, manufactured from fish species associated with a high amount of histidine”.
Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 provides for fishery products the possibility to lay down freshness criteria and limits regarding histamine content. The regulation puts on food business operators the responsibility to ensure that these limits are not exceeded.
Therefore, EFSA in the context of the “Self-tasking mandate on risk based control of biogenic amine formation in fermented foods” [EFSA-Q-2009-00829] envisage the need to collect data on biogenic amines levels in food and beverages to allow estimating the exposure of the European population to these substances for risk assessment purposes.
Call for data
Member States, research institutions, academia and any other stakeholders (e.g. meat industry) are invited to submit data on the presence of biogenic amines such as histamine, tyramine, cadaverine, putrescine, tryptamine, phenylethylamine, spermine and spermidine in food and beverages. Particularly important will be the reporting of food processing information, which should be reported in the available data fields (“Product treatment” and “Product comment”). The collection targets data from 2005 (included) to present. Data from previous years are also welcome.
For more details on how to submit the data on biogenic amines please follow the link DATEX How to submit data where under the section Reporting formats you can find the following files:
- “Reporting format – Biogenic amines”, a reporting format for biogenic in MS Excel and,
- “Instructions – Biogenic amines”, a document containing the specific requirements for this collection and information on how to use the reporting format.
It is very important to read the “Instructions” document before using the reporting format.
The reporting format is in line with the “Standard sample description for food and feed” available on the EFSA website (
Standard sample description for food and feed). XML transmission is also possible; for more information about this feature please contact datex@efsa.europa.eu
Deadline for transmitting the data: 03 September 2010.
Contact details
Data should be sent to the e-mail addresses given below: contaminants@efsa.europa.eu
For inquires regarding the reporting format please contact us at datex@efsa.europa.eu
