Results from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) 25th Australian Total Diet Study have revealed agricultural and veterinary chemicals are “generally very low...indicating no public and safety concerns” to the Australian food supply.
The study tested 88 foods for 226 chemicals, including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, and four metals: arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
FSANZ CEO Mark Booth says the results from the study again demonstrate the safety of the Australian food supply.
“The levels of agricultural and veterinary chemicals were generally very low, with a majority of samples having no detectable residues," Booth says.
“Estimated dietary exposures for all but one chemical were below the relevant acceptable daily intakes (ADIs), indicating no public health and safety concerns.
“Estimated dietary exposure to the insecticide prothiofos exceeded the ADI for some population age groups. FSANZ informed the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) which subsequently worked with industry who voluntarily changed the way prothiofos is used to ensure that risks for Australian consumers are acceptably low.”
The Australian Total Diet Study highlights that agricultural chemicals have a vital role in supporting the Australian farming industry by protecting crops and livestock, and boosting production.
“Human exposure, while undesirable, may occur at low levels through consumption of produce treated in accordance with strict conditions of use. These substances are thus a high priority for ongoing monitoring,” the report reads.
Metal contaminants were detected in a limited number of food samples, including seafood, while some cereal and vegetable crops were also determined to contain higher concentrations of arsenic and cadmium, however were comparable, or lower, than those found internationally.
“For metal contaminants, all detections were below the maximum levels set in the Food Standards Code and consistent with international levels,” Booth says.
“Estimated dietary exposure to methylmercury (through the consumption of fish) exceeded the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for children aged 2 to 5 years. The risks in this case are balanced by the known benefits of fish consumption. FSANZ has published consumer advice to manage dietary exposure to mercury while highlighting the health benefits.”
The full report is available on the FSANZ website.
