EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on the risk to public health related to the presence of high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in liver from sheep and deer. The opinion should also explore possible reasons for these high findings. Moreover, EFSA was asked whether dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels for liver should better be expressed on fresh weight rather than on a fat basis. The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) evaluated dioxin and PCB results from 332 sheep liver, 175 sheep meat and 9 deer liver samples submitted by eight European countries and estimated the exposure through consumption of sheep liver for adults (consumers only) and children. Regular consumption of sheep liver would result on average in an approximate 20 % increase of the median background exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) for adults. On individual occasions, consumption of sheep liver could result in high intakes exceeding the tolerable weekly intake (TWI). The CONTAM Panel concluded that the frequent consumption of sheep liver, particularly by women of child-bearing age and children, may be a potential health concern. Additional intake of non dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) from consumption of sheep liver does not add substantially to the total dietary intake. The range of fat content in sheep liver is considerably narrower than for a number of other food categories regulated in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. Therefore, the CONTAM Panel sees no need to change the basis for expression of results and maximum levels solely for liver from fat weight to fresh weight basis. A lower activity of CYP1A enzymes in sheep than in cattle was identified as a possible reason for higher dioxin and DL-PCB levels in sheep liver. Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in liver from sheep and deer EFSA Journal 2011;9(7):2297 2
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SUMMARYFollowing a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the risk to public health related to the presence of high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in liver from sheep and deer. The opinion should also explore possible reasons for the findings of high levels of dioxins and PCBs in liver from sheep and deer. Finally, the question was raised whether dioxin and PCB levels for liver, as for fish, should better be expressed on a fresh weight basis rather than on a fat basis.Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are two groups of tricyclic planar compounds that often are together referred to as "dioxins". Unless otherwise stated, in this opinion the term "dioxins" refers to PCDDs and PCDFs together. Dependent on the number of chlorine atoms (1-8) and their positions in the rings, 75 PCDDs and 135 PCDFs, termed "congeners", can occur. Dioxins are poorly soluble in water but highly soluble in lipids. Due to their lipophilic properties they accumulate in the food chain and a...