• Summary
• 1. Foodstuffs
• 2. Cosmetic products
• 3. Commodities

Summary

The Monitoring Scheme is a system of repeated representative measurements and evaluations of levels of substances which are undesirable from a health point of view, such as residues of plant protection products and pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins and other contaminants in and on foodstuffs, commodities and cosmetic products.

In line with the General Administrative Provisions (AVV) for the 2011-2015 Monitoring Scheme(1), the following foodstuffs, commodities and cosmetic products from the population’s representative market basket were examined in 2012 (market basket monitoring):

Food of animal origin

• Butter (full fat content)
• Harz cheese (and similar sour milk cheeses)
• Chicken eggs
• Herring
• Veal (meat)
• Veal (liver)
• Brown shrimp meat
• Tuna in its own juice (tinned)

Food of plant origin

• Apricot
• Aubergine
• Banana
• Cauliflower
• Nettle tea
• Dates (dried)
• Spelt grains
• Peas (deep frozen, without pod)
• Sweet pepper
• Curly kale (fresh/deep frozen/prepared)
• Oat grains
• Coffee (roasted, ground)
• Cocoa powder (slightly de-oiled/strongly de-oiled)
• Camomile flower tea
• Chick peas
• Maize flour
• Mandarin/clementine
• Olive oil (virgin/extra virgin)
• Orange juice
• Paprika powder (spice)
• Parsley leaves
• Pine nuts
• Radish
• Rucola (rocket salad)
• Chocolate with quality reference (at least 80 % cocoa content)
• Table grapes (red/white)
• Water melon
• Wine (red/white)
• Wheat grains
• Button mushroom (cultivated)
• Sweetcorn

Cosmetic products

• Cream rouge
• Mascara (coloured)
• Eyeliner/kajal pencil
• Cream eye shadow
• Toothpaste

Commodities (toys)

• Varnished wooden toys (for children under 36 months)
• Pencil crayons (made of varnished wood)

Depending on which undesirable substances were expected, the foods were analysed for residues of plant protection products and pesticides as well as for contaminants (for instance, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), elements, nitrate and mycotoxins). Cosmetic products were tested for element contents, while toys were tested for phthalates and other plasticizers in the varnish.

In addition to market basket monitoring, the following special topics were examined with regard to foodstuffs in order to close knowledge gaps for risk assessment and to address current questions. This part of the programme is called project monitoring:

• Phthalates in fancy bakery products
• 3-MCPD in smoked cured raw products and raw sausage
• Metal content in deer, roe deer and fallow deer
• Brominated flame retardants in rainbow trout and salmon

As far as comparison with results from earlier monitoring studies was possible, this was considered in the interpretation of findings. It must be emphasised that all statements and assessments in this report concerning the presence of substances which are undesirable from a health point of view solely refer to the products, substances and substance groups studied in 2012. An estimation of the entire exposure to certain substances is not possible because only part of the market basket can be examined per year and the substances also occur in other products.

Altogether, the findings of the 2012 food monitoring programme again support the recommendation that nutrition should be manifold and balanced in order to minimise the dietary intake of undesirable substances which is, to some degree, unavoidable.

In total, 8,052 samples of products produced at home and abroad were analysed in the framework of market basket and project monitoring in 2012, including 6,987 samples of foodstuffs, 476 samples of commodities, and 589 samples of cosmetic products. In detail, the findings were as follows:

1. Foodstuffs

Residues of plant protection products and pesticides

Food of animal origin

Around a third of the chicken eggs analysed, half of the butter samples and 40/47 % of the calf's meat/liver samples showed negligible residues from plant protection products and pesticides. This percentage was partly a lot less in butter, chicken eggs and calf's liver compared to previous monitoring analyses.

As in many other foodstuffs of animal origin, residues from mainly ubiquitously present, persistent organochlorine compounds were detected once again. These were once used intensively and still find their way into the food chain via environmental contamination. Permissible maximum residue levels were not exceeded. The residues gave no indication of an acute health risk for the consumer.

Food of plant origin

Residues from plant protection products were detected in various amounts in all foodstuffs of plant origin analysed. There were no quantified residues for 93 % of the sweetcorn samples; this was the case for more than 60 % of the samples of aubergines, olive oil and orange juice. The largest percentage of quantified residues (> 80 %) was found in apricots, bananas (with skin), nettle tea, curly kale, camomile flower tea, mandarines/clementines (with peel), parsley leaves, rucola and table grapes. Altogether, multiple residues were also most frequently determined in these products and in paprika powder. The highest amount of residues totalled 27 substances in one sample of paprika powder followed by 15 residues in a sample of mandarines.

In 4.2 % of product samples from indigenous production, active substance residues were detected although their use on the respective crop was not authorised in Germany in 2012. Curly kale and parsley leaves were the most frequently affected foodstuffs.

Maximum permissible residue levels were not exceeded in oat and wheat grains, olive oil, orange juice, paprika powder or sweetcorn in the 2012 monitoring. The highest percentages of residues in samples which exceeded permissible maximum residue levels were determined in nettle tea (5.4 %), curly kale (7.5 %), camomile flower tea (14.9 %), parsley leaves (9.2 %) and rucola (10.4 %). For all other products, this percentage was between 0.6 and 2.5 %.

The percentage of the 24 analysed foodstuffs of plant origin from Germany exceeding maximum residue levels (2.9 %) was around a third higher compared to the two years before, due above all to the relatively large number of cases in curly kale, camomile flower tea, parsley leaves, radishes and rucola from national production. Considered as a whole however, the products of plant origin produced in Germany represented the largest percentage of samples without quantifiable residues.

The result of the risk assessment on the basis of residue levels of carbendazim in a sample of water melons, cyhalothrin in a sample of curly kale, dimethoate/omethoate in two samples of curly kale, dithiocarbamates in a sample of apricots, oxamyl in a sample of water melons and sulfotep in a sample of parsley leaves showed that acute health impairment was believed possible.

For all other residue levels, including those above the maximum statutory levels, an acute health hazard for consumers was practically excluded.

Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)

The analysis results for samples of calf's meat and liver were categorised according to the type of animal husbandry stated. The contamination of calf's meat and liver with dioxins and dl-PCBs from conventional production is classified as negligible. Calf's liver samples without an indication of which type of husbandry showed increased contamination with dl-PCBs.

It is not possible for the 2012 monitoring scheme to make a statement on the contamination situation for samples from free range farming or farming in accordance with the Council Regulation on organic production due to the small number of samples. However, analyses for the Federal control plan in 2011 shows increased contamination of calf's meat which comes from offspring originating from suckler cow husbandry.

The maximum level for the total parameter for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (WHO-World Health Organisation-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ) was exceeded for a total of eight samples of calf's meat. The maximum level for dioxins (WHO-World Health Organisation-PCDD/F-TEQ) was exceeded for calf's liver in one sample and the maximum level for the total parameter WHO-World Health Organisation-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ in five samples. The maximum level for the total of the indicator-ndl-PCBs was exceeded overall in ten samples of calf's meat and 18 samples of calf's liver.

The products brown shrimp meat and virgin olive oil, which were analysed for the first time by the monitoring scheme for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCB), were shown to be only slightly contaminated. Both these foodstuffs were analysed previously by the monitoring scheme for non-dioxin-like PCBs (ndl-PCB). Brown shrimp meat shows constant low contamination with ndl-PCB whereas in olive oil the content was less again compared to the previous analysis. Maximum levels were not shown to have been exceeded.

Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)

PFAS can be found ubiquitously in negligible levels in the environment; this leads to an unavoidable so-called background contamination of foodstuffs as well. The analysis results from this programme show that the foodstuffs herring and chicken eggs, examined for the first time, were contaminated with very negligible levels of PFAS. Maximum levels in foodstuffs have not been set for these substances as of yet.

Out of the 14 individual substances analysed, only negligible levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were quantified in 2.5 % of the 40 analysed herring samples and in 25 % of the twelve chicken egg samples. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was quantified in one chicken egg sample.

Brominated flame retardants

Contamination of rainbow trout and salmon with the brominated flame retardants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), hexabromocyclodecane HBCD and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB-153) is classified as negligible. The PBDE congeners were quantified almost twice as frequently in both fish species compared to the HBCCD isomers. The very low ratio of samples with quantified contents of PBB-153 indicate that this substance has not been used industrially for a long time and its content in the environment has already receded.

The development and harmonisation of existing analysis methods seems to be an urgent task in the near future for preparing further monitoring projects. As soon as the analytical prerequisites exist, the analysis spectrum should be extended to other foodstuffs apart from fish and fish products.

Phthalates

Various bakery products, mainly with high fat levels, were analysed for the presence of the phthalates DBP, DEHP and DINP in fancy bakery products.

All three phthalates were found with varying frequencies and amounts in the samples in plastic packaging or combination packaging made of plastic, most frequently DEHP. The numerous and high contents of DEHP in waffles and croissants were noteworthy. In 3 out of 21 rich tea-like biscuit samples, DEHP and DINP were found. No phthalates were quantified in rusks, regardless of the type of packaging. Out of twelve bakery products wrapped in paper, there were nine positive DEHP and two positive DINP findings in waffles and croissants with a high fat content.

Since the number of samples per product and type of packaging was not sufficient for statistically confirmed statements, the results were to be supplemented by more detailed studies before and after the products are packaged.

Mycotoxins

Aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂

Spelt and wheat grains and chickpeas, which were examined for the first time by the monitoring scheme, were not contaminated with aflatoxins. Only a negligible contamination with aflatoxins was detected for maize flour, dried dates and pine nuts, the latter having been examined voluntarily.

Compared to the monitoring scheme in previous years, the contamination of paprika powder remained at a low level. Maximum levels were only exceeded for one sample of paprika powder of unknown origin and one sample of dried dates from Tunisia.

Fumonisins B₁ und B₂

A large proportion of the 57 samples of maize flour analysed in 2012 showed quantified contents of fumonisins B1 and B2 . However, levels were low in the product. The mean content was between the results from previous analyses so that no clear tendency in the development of content can be deduced. The influence of the weather on the contamination of cereals with fusaria fungi could explain why the contents vary so greatly. The maximum level for maize flour for direct human consumption was exceeded in one sample of unknown origin.

Ochratoxin A (OTA)

Spelt grains, maize flour, dried dates and pine nuts, which were analysed for the first time by the monitoring scheme, were only contaminated slightly with OTA.
The contamination of wheat grains, red wine and roasted, ground coffee with OTA remained at the same low level as in previous years. Compared with previous analyses, a distinct increase in OTA contamination was detected for paprika powder. However, the maximum level for OTA was kept to for paprika powder in the analysed samples.

There was no major change in contents in samples of chocolate with a quality reference analysed in 2012 compared to previous monitoring analysis taking into consideration measurement uncertainty. The maximum levels were exceeded in one sample of dried dates from Tunisia and in two samples each of spelt and wheat grains from Germany.

T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin

The occurrence of T-2- and HT-2 toxin depends to a great extent on weather changes. Wet, cold weather can accelerate the development of fusaria fungi.
Oat grains are expected to have a distinctly higher content of T-2-/HT-2 toxins than the cereal products analysed in 2012. It is clear from literature that fusaria fungi producing T-2-/HT-2 toxins especially contaminate oats, compared to other types of cereal.

The samples of maize flour, spelt and wheat grains analysed were only contaminated negligibly with T-2-/HT-2 toxins.

3-MCPD

The analysis results for 3-MCPD in smoked cured raw products and raw sausage showed that 74.2 % of the total 275 samples analysed had quantifiable contents of 3-MCPD. If the median, the 90th percentile and the 95th percentile are compared for smoked cured raw products and raw sausage, no significant differences can be seen.
There were no significant differences in 3-MCPD content between the friction smoking process and the smouldering smoking process either.

It was striking that in samples taken from liquid smoke, only 30 % of the analysed samples showed quantifiable contents of 3-MCPD. However, due to the small number of samples (10) it cannot be judged for sure whether contamination with 3-MCPD can be minimised using liquid smoke.

Elements

Lead

Of the foodstuffs of animal origin analysed in 2012, calf's meat and liver and also Harz cheese showed higher median and maximum lead contents than herring, tuna fish in its own juice (tinned), chicken eggs and brown shrimp meat. In its role as a detoxification organ in animal organisms, the liver accumulates heavy metals ingested with feed; this explains the higher lead contents for this foodstuff.

Metal contents in deer, roe deer and fallow deer examined for a project were low in the majority of samples. There were, however, some high individual findings of lead. Consumption of such contaminated game meat may result in a high degree of consumer exposure to lead in single cases.

In food of plant origin, a comparatively high contamination with lead was noted for cocoa and chocolate with a quality reference (min. 80 % cocoa). Furthermore, notably high contents of this heavy metal were detected in paprika powder (spice). However, due to the negligible amount of this spice consumed and the consequent exposure, no health risk is assumed for the consumer. Lead was only quantified in low amounts in the foodstuffs analysed for the first time for lead by the 2012 monitoring scheme: nettle and camomile flower tea (infusion) as well as dates, maize flour, olive oil, parsley leaves, pine nuts, water melon and sweetcorn.

Cadmium

The foodstuff samples of animal origin analysed in 2012 were only contaminated to a small degree with cadmium. This also applies to the deer, roe deer and fallow deer examined for a project.

As far as foodstuffs of plant origin are concerned, cadmium contents in spelt grains, curly kale, coffee (roasted, ground) and cultivated button mushrooms remained at a similarly low level to those from analyses in previous years. The maximum level set by Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 was exceeded in one sample of curly kale However, the mean cadmium contents in these foodstuffs were not conspicuous, meaning that a solitary increased contamination could be assumed rather than contamination which had increased generally. The cadmium contents for the foodstuffs analysed for the first time by the monitoring scheme, namely nettle and camomile flower tea (infusion) as well as dates, maize flour, olive oil, parsley leaves, pine nuts, water melon and sweetcorn, can be classified as negligible.

Comparatively increased cadmium contents were quantified in pine nuts and paprika powder (spice). The development of cadmium contents in these foodstuffs should continue to be observed by future monitoring analyses. In addition, an increased degree of contamination was found in cocoa powder and in particular in chocolate with a quality reference distinguished by a high proportion of fine cocoa (min. 80 % cocoa content). Cocoa plants absorb the heavy metal present in the soil via their roots and it is accumulated by the cocoa beans. Depending on the amount of cadmium in the soil and the cocoa variety, the content of cadmium in the cocoa or chocolate can vary. In order to avoid health risks through increased cadmium contents in cocoa and cocoa products, an extension of the specification for maximum levels in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 seems justified. At present, the introduction of maximum levels for cadmium in chocolate and cocoa powder is therefore being discussed intensively in the Expert Committee for Industrial and Environmental Contaminants of the European Commission.

Mercury

Chicken eggs and veal's liver showed only very low levels of mercury, as in previous years. The maximum level of 0.01 mg/kg set by Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 was slightly exceeded only in one sample of calf’s liver. Furthermore, Harz cheese, which was analysed for the first time by market basket monitoring, and calf's meat only showed very slight contamination with mercury. The types of fish analysed (herring and tuna in its own juice - tinned) and brown shrimp meat showed higher mercury contents; however, these findings had been expected due to the characteristic accumulation of mercury in these foodstuffs. In spite of this, maximum levels according to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 were not exceeded, neither in the types of fish analysed nor in brown shrimp meat.

The mercury content in the deer, roe deer and fallow deer examined for a project was mostly negligible, apart from a few single higher findings.

The mercury contents of the samples of plant origin analysed including those foodstuffs which were tested for the first time (dates, curly kale, parsley leaves and pine nuts) could also be classified as negligible. The maximum mercury level of
0.01 mg/kg set by Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 for cultivated mushrooms was exceeded in four samples of cultivated button mushrooms. Mean mercury contents in this food were yet not conspicuous, so that a solitary rather than generally increased contamination can be assumed.

Copper

For the foodstuffs of animal origin analysed, the median copper contents were between 0.500 mg/kg (Harz cheese, calf's meat) and 112 mg/kg (calf's liver). Maximum levels pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005 were exceeded in 55 samples of veal liver, three samples of veal meat, and one sample of chicken meat. The findings in veal, and here in particular in liver, should trigger investigations to identify the sources of contamination (such as, for instance, residues of plant protection products, environmental contamination, or feeding of copper-containing feed additives). Because of a lack of harmonisation of feed and food legislation in this field, the European Commission currently discusses a revision of copper maximum levels to establish safe foundations for evaluating copper findings.

The copper content in the deer, roe deer and fallow deer examined for a project was shown to be negligible in the majority.

The median contents in foodstuffs of plant origin were between 0.02 mg/kg (virgin olive oil) and 40 mg/kg (cocoa powder). Maximum levels according to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 were exceeded in one sample of spelt grains, in one sample of parsley leaves and in seven samples of pine nuts.

Aluminium

For most of the foodstuffs analysed for aluminium during the year, there are no results available from previous monitoring studies to serve as a comparison. The middle contents (median values) for foodstuffs of animal origin were between
0.147 mg/kg (chicken eggs) and 0.965 mg/kg (brown shrimp meat). The aluminium content in the deer, roe deer and fallow deer examined for a project was shown to be negligible in the majority of samples.

The median contents in foodstuffs of plant origin were largely between 0.15 mg/kg (nettle tea infusion) and 19 mg/kg (rucola). Pine nuts, cocoa powder, chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 80 % and in particular paprika powder contain relatively high contents of aluminium. Amongst other things, increased aluminium accumulation from the soil is assumed in this case. The findings should present a reason for continuing to observe development via the monitoring scheme.

Arsenic

Contamination with arsenic can be classified as negligible for foodstuffs of animal origin analysed in 2012: Harz cheese, chicken eggs and calf's meat or liver. The types of fish herring and tuna in its own juice (tinned) and in particular brown shrimp meat showed the highest median and maximum arsenic contents out of all the foodstuffs analysed in 2012. Fish, in particular predators such as tuna which are at the end of the food-chain, accumulate various environmental toxins (e.g. heavy metals) from their natural habitat. This can lead to an increased degree of contamination with arsenic in tuna fish. Admittedly, arsenic is found in fish and seafood mainly in the form of less toxic organic compounds.

The arsenic content in the deer, roe deer and fallow deer examined for a project was shown to be negligible in the majority, apart from a few single higher findings.
Only a negligible arsenic content was found overall in the foodstuffs of plant origin analysed. Merely data for paprika and cocoa powder showed a comparatively high degree of contamination for arsenic. The introduction of maximum levels for total/inorganic arsenic in certain food categories is therefore being discussed since 2010 in the Expert Committee for Industrial and Environmental Contaminants of the European Commission. Data from the monitoring scheme can serve as a basis for decisions for consultations at European level.

Nickel

For most of the foodstuffs analysed for nickel during the year, there are no results available from previous monitoring studies to serve as a comparison. The middle contents (median values) for most foodstuffs of plant and animal origin analysed were on a low level. Increased nickel contents were only found for cocoa powder, chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 80 % and pine nuts.

Tin

Tin contents in samples of tuna in its own juice (tinned), which were analysed for the first time in 2012, were at a very low level and far below the statutory maximum level according to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. In the samples of chicken eggs analysed for tin, only very negligible tin contents were found as well. In white and red wine this heavy metal was not quantifiable in any of the samples analysed.

Nitrate

Out of the foodstuffs analysed by the monitoring scheme in 2012, rucola showed the highest nitrate contents. Compared to the studies in previous years, contamination with nitrate has not receded in rucola. The maximum levels of 6000/7000 mg nitrate/kg, which became effective on 1 April 2012, had been exceeded in over 10 % of samples. Due to the introduction of the rule for maximum levels for nitrate in rucola, the products are not allowed to be placed on the market or sold if limits are exceeded. This can contribute to a reduction of nitrate intake via this foodstuff. The nitrate contents for parsley leaves and in particular curly kale which were analysed for the first time for nitrate were on a comparatively low level altogether; however, there were isolated cases of peak contamination. The recommendation to introduce suitable measures to reduce contents in these foodstuffs therefore remains.

2. Cosmetic products

Elements

The studies in 2012 on cream rouge, mascara, eyeliner/kajal pencil, cream eye shadow and toothpaste ended a three-year period of analysis of cosmetic products for elements. It was necessary to extend the analysis over this period in order to be able to determine a sufficient number of samples and in order to have different relevant types of products to be able to obtain representative results for deriving new guidance values for technically avoiding heavy metals.

The results of this year and the last three years show that exceeding the original BGA (former Federal Health Office) guidance values cannot be excluded for individual samples, whilst, as a rule, they were not exhausted by a long way. A distinct reduction of these recommendations, if appropriate for particular product groups, is therefore possible.

3. Commodities

Phthalates

The results of the analysis for plasticizers, in particular phthalates, on varnished wooden toys and pencils made of varnished wood show that concentration limits for the phthalates BBP, DEHP, DBP and DINP which are toxic for reproduction were exceeded in both products similarly. The maximum limit for DNOP was not exceeded for any of the analysed samples. DIDP was not determined in any of the analysed samples. However, DIBP was quantified in numerous samples. According to Directive 2009/48/EC on toys, a maximum limit of 0.5% applies to toys from 21 July 2013 onwards concerning this phthalate classified as toxic for reproduction in category 1B. According to the directive, numerous products would exceed this limit.

The following plasticizers were quantified frequently in varnished wooden toys for children under 36 months: acetyl tributyl citrate, the reproduction-toxic phthalates DEHP, DBP, DIBP and bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate. In contrast, diethyl adipate, DEP, DIHpP, DMA and DPP were not determined.

The spectrum of the plasticizers used in pencil crayons is similar to that of wooden toys. In these cases too, acetyl tributyl citrate and the reproduction-toxic phthalates DBP, DIBP and DEHP were quantified particularly frequently, whilst DCHP, DEP, DIHpP and DPP as well as trimethyl pentanediol diisobutyrate were not quantified in any analysed pencil crayon at all.

Since individual plasticizers probably differ in the various types of products just as much as the analysed products differ in their use (wooden toys for children under 36 months is subject to a different mouthing behaviour than pencil crayons), the individual plasticizers for both product groups were evaluated separately.

¹ "Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Durchführung des Monitorings von Lebensmitteln, kosmetischen Mitteln und Bedarfsgegenständen für die Jahre 2011 bis 2015 (AVV Monitoring 2011-2015)", BAnz no. 198 of 29.12.2010, p. 4364ff

to the top