Has Your Food Fallen Prey to Dioxin Contamination?

March 21, 2011 - PRLog -- What is a Dioxin?

Dioxins comprise 210 components, including Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDFs) – of these, seventeen are known to be toxic. Dioxins are unintended by-products of manufacture involving chemical and combustion processes.

How Dioxins Threaten the Food Chain

As well as infecting the environment, dioxins can accumulate in the food chain as they break down very slowly, consisting of fat soluble and persistent chemicals. The Western diet of dairy products, eggs, meat, poultry and animal fats tend to have the highest levels of dioxin concentration. The EU has consequently developed legislation to regulate the contamination of dioxins in the food supply. The maximum levels of dioxins allowed are very low and complex matrices have been developed to determine their presence

Dioxin contamination has occurred most recently in Germany (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/8), where fatty acids intended for technical use were contaminated with dioxins and ended up contaminating the food chain. Dioxins were thus detected in animal feed production lots, causing much consternation amongst the government and farming community.

In Ireland in 2008, dioxins were discovered in pork; again, animal feed derived from bakery waste had been contaminated by direct contact with combustion gases originating from non-food grade oil. In 2007, in Switzerland, guar gum from India was found to be contaminated with dioxins and pentachlorophenol and back in 1999, Belgium underwent its own dioxin crisis when polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) oil was mixed with frying oil for final use in animal feed.

Uncovering the Dioxin

Determining the presence of dioxins (http://www.sgs.com/dioxins.htm?serviceId=8605&lobId=5548#...) is difficult as the matrices used are complex and because the levels of regulatory interest have hitherto been low. Trace analysis and High Resolution Mass Spectrometry have been utilized, with the latter augmenting instrumental analysis. The analysis often involves whole sample treatment, so for example, transferring the dioxins from eggs to a single droplet solution or turning a piece of meat into a one droplet solution containing all the native dioxin contamination.

On top of the complexity of dioxin contamination analysis, requirements with regard to regulatory action time frames come into play, with routine scientific work and turnaround time being of the essence when a contamination problem is suspected.

Testing for Dioxins

SGS (http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com/primary-production-risk-man...) has extensive experience in dioxin testing. In 1999, the Belgian Food Agency appointed SGS for the testing and analyses of dioxins. SGS’ fast and accurate response to the crisis of 1999 enabled the authorities to deal with the contamination effectively and with its global geographical presence, SGS is well place to deliver dioxin testing services anywhere in the world, with its aim being to provide the best service on the market.

International organizations such as UNEP Chemicals recognize SGS’ expertise in its analysis of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and SGS has made several contributions to workshops dedicated to improving analytical tools in developing regions of the world.

SGS (http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com/contaminants.htm) can test for not only dioxins but other dioxin-like components such as PCBs, Polybrominated Flame Retardants, Polychloronaphtalenes, Polychlorinated diphenylethers, Brominated dioxins and furans. SGS’ knowledge and expertise makes it a leading light in food safety testing services.

For further details please contact:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Marc Van Ryckeghem
Business Unit Manager I.A.C., SGS Belgium N.V.
Polderdijkweg 16, haven 407, 2030 Antwerpen, Belgium

t:  +32 3 545 85 90
E-mail : marc.vanryckeghem@sgs.com
Website:  http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 64'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'250 offices and laboratories around the world.

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SGS Consumer Testing Services ensures the quality and safety of every kind of consumer products, from textiles, electronics and furniture to food and automotive.
For more information, please visit: http://www.sgs.com/cts