Food monitoring is a system of repeated representative measurements and evaluation of levels of undesirable substances, namely plant protection products, heavy metals and other contaminants, in and on foods. In 2003, food monitoring was for the first time organised as a dual approach. Foods forming part of a defined market basket were examined in the framework of what is called a 'market-basket monitoring', as in previous years. In addition to that, specific topical questions relating to certain particular substances or foods were looked into by a number of special monitoring projects ('project monitoring'). Under the 2003 monitoring scheme, a total of 4927 food samples of domestic and foreign origin were examined for residues of plant protection products, heavy metals, nitrate, organic contaminants, and mycotoxins. Contamination of foodstuffs with the mentioned substance groups was generally found to be low. The only conspicuous findings were made with plant protection product residues in table grapes, where 15 per cent of samples contained residues higher than fixed maximum residue levels. It turned out that table grapes from European growing areas were more contaminated than such from South America or South Africa. Mycotoxins were also frequently found in the foodstuffs examined. It is necessary to further monitor contamination of foodstuffs with mycotoxins and take suitable measures to reduce such contamination.

Overview of foodstuffs examined under the 2003 monitoring scheme:

• Meat: rabbit, goose, duck
• Cereals and cereal products: wheat grains, rice, wheat bran
• Vegetables: white cabbage, cauliflower, sweet peppers, cucumber, aubergine, peas (deep-frozen)
• Culinary herbs: basil, savoury, dill, parsley, chives

• Mycotoxins projects:

  Deoxynivalenol in durum semolina, pasta, and bread

  Deoxynivalenol in wholemeal and multi-grain products for infants and young children

  Fumonisins in maize flour, maize semolina, and cornflakes

  Ochratoxin A in dried grapes

• Projects monitoring plant protection products

  Residues of plant protection products in table grapes

  Residues of benzoyl ureas in table grapes

  Residues of plant protection products in olive oil, wheat germ oil, and maize germ oil

  Residues of chlormequat and mepiquat in foodstuffs

  Organo-tin compounds in freshwater fish