Editorial: The European Food Risk Assessment Fellowship Programme (EU‐FORA)

Bronzwaer, S L A M; Gourierec, Nicoline Le; Koulouris, Stylianos

doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2016.e14111

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…The general methodology applied for the risk assessment of the chosen botanical should be suitable for application by the fellow also for the risk assessment of other substances with nutritional or physiological effect added to foods and food supplements. A further aim of the programme was to build professional connections with other colleagues in nutritional risk assessment (Bronzwaer et al., ), which can be expected to provide a supportive resource long after the completion of the fellowship, through exchange of views or common projects between the fellow's hosting site and the fellow's home institute.…”

Section: Description Of Work Programmementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The risk assessment of G. sylvestre and preparations from these was performed in the context of the EFSA EU‐FORA fellowship programme. This programme offers motivated professionals from EU national risk assessment authorities or other Article 36 organisations the opportunity to increase their knowledge and experience in food safety risk assessment (Bronzwaer et al., ). The aim of this programme is to contribute towards expanding the EU's community of scientists working in the field of risk assessment and at the same time enhance cooperation among Europe's food safety agencies as well as between them and EFSA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk assessment of substances used in food supplements: the example of the botanical Gymnema sylvestre

Marakis¹,

Ziegenhagen²,

Lampen³

et al. 2018

EFS2

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Botanicals and preparations derived from these are among the substances frequently added to foods and food supplements, yet the safety of many botanicals has not been systematically assessed. In the context of the EU‐FORA fellowship programme, the fellow performed an assessment on the safety of the botanical Gymnema sylvestre, in accordance with EFSA's guidance on the assessment of safety of botanicals. Although preparations of G. sylvestre are marketed as food supplements, they may appeal to people who are suffering from metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes mellitus. A scientific literature search was carried out using PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases. Experience was gained by the fellow in systematic data extraction from scientific publications, structuring of the data and evaluating toxicological key parameters, outcomes of clinical significance, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions, uncertainties and methodological shortcomings of studies. Limited evidence from toxicological in vivo studies and human clinical studies suggested lack of relevant adverse effects of this botanical. However, human studies provided some indications that certain Gymnema extracts may enhance the glucose‐lowering effects of certain antidiabetic drugs. Considering the uncertainties for the composition of different Gymnema preparations, potential herb–drug interactions and the indications of glucose lowering or hypoglycaemic effects, the use of Gymnema‐based food supplements in combination with authorised antidiabetic drugs may be associated with risks. The procedures learned for the safety evaluation of Gymnema may be similarly applied by the fellow for the risk assessment of other substances with nutritional or physiological effect added to foods and food supplements. Furthermore, apart from learning by conducting exercises in risk assessment, the fellow was able to develop other skills (e.g. communication skills), diversify his competencies and expand his network of scientific connections for future collaborations in the field of nutritional risk assessment.

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Section: Description Of Work Programmementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk assessment of substances used in food supplements: the example of the botanical Gymnema sylvestre

Marakis¹,

Ziegenhagen²,

Lampen³

et al. 2018

EFS2

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“…At the Department of Food Safety of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), recently a combine and conquer strategy for QSAR analyses was developed and applied to ~ 800 heat‐induced food contaminants (Frenzel et al., ) as well as to ~ 600 secondary plant compounds (Glück et al., ). In the course of the EU‐FORA programme (Bronzwaer et al., ), the fellow, Dr Josef D Rasinger from the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Norway, was placed at the BfR, to become familiar with the in silico tools and approaches described in Frenzel et al. () and to corroborate findings related to the safety of heat‐induced contaminants through re‐analyses of the already published data using updated and additional in silico tools and approaches.…”

Section: Description Of Work Programmementioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and evaluation of potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic food contaminants

Rasinger¹,

Frenzel²,

Braeuning³

et al. 2018

EFS2

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Heat processing of food gives rise to a plethora of chemical compounds whose toxicological effects are largely unknown. Due to a general lack of experimental toxicological data, assessing the risks associated with the consumption of these substances remains a challenge. Computer models that allow for an in silico prediction of physicochemical and toxicological characteristics, may be able to fill current data gaps and facilitate the risk assessment of toxicologically uncharacterised chemicals, their transformation products and their biological metabolites. The overall aims of the present project were for the fellow: (i) to get acquainted with the application of computational toxicological analyses tools in risk assessment based on results and experiences from previous research performed at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR); and (ii) to apply the newly gained skills on historic and novel data using updated and additional in silico tools. The project contributed to the continuous further education of the fellow in the use of computational toxicology tools, corroborated findings related to the safety of heat‐induced contaminants and laid the foundations for future collaborations between the fellow's home institution, the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Norway, and the BfR in Germany.

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“…It is aimed specifically at early-to mid-career scientists working in food safety organisations across Europe. (Bronzwaer et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk assessment of white willow (Salix alba) in food

Matyjaszczyk¹,

Schumann²

2018

EFS2

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This Technical Report contains a description of the activities within the work programme of the EU‐FORA Fellowship on the risk assessment of white willow in food. The bark of different varieties of willow has had a long history of medical use as a means to reduce fever and as a painkiller. Willow bark is also used in weight loss and sports performance food supplements. The labelling of these products usually does not mention any restrictions to the length of use. The recommended doses for foods differ, sometimes exceeding doses recommended for pharmaceuticals. A systematic literature review on adverse effects potentially resulting from oral exposure to white willow (Salix alba) was performed. The aim of the study was to assess the risk for humans when consuming white willow bark in food. The preliminary results show that despite the long history of use only very limited data on toxicity of white willow bark are available. However, anaphylactic reactions in people with a history of allergy to salicylates may occur. Some other adverse effects of salicylates are considered to be of low relevance for the long‐time consumption of white willow bark, mainly due to relatively low concentrations of salicin and the presence of compounds with gastroprotective action. However, it seems that the content of heavy metals, mainly cadmium, should be further addressed in risk assessment of white willow bark in food.

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Editorial: The European Food Risk Assessment Fellowship Programme (EU‐FORA)

Cited by 17 publications

References 1 publication

Risk assessment of substances used in food supplements: the example of the botanical Gymnema sylvestre

Risk assessment of substances used in food supplements: the example of the botanical Gymnema sylvestre

Identification and evaluation of potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic food contaminants

Risk assessment of white willow (Salix alba) in food

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