Evaluation of certain food contaminants

This report represents the conclusions of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee convened to evaluate the safety of various food contaminants, with the aim to advise on risk management options for the purpose of public health protection. The first part of the report contains a general discussion of the principles governing the toxicological evaluation of contaminants and assessments of intake. A summary follows of the Committee's evaluations of technical, toxicological and intake data for certain food contaminants (acrylamide, ethyl carbamate, inorganic tin, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Cadmium was assessed to determine the impact of different maximum limits on intake. Annexed to the report are tables summarizing the Committee's recommendations for intakes and toxicological evaluations of the food contaminants considered, and a description of the statistical methods for dose-response modelling as applied at this meeting.