Scope: The Consultation was convened to provide FAO, WHO and their Member States with scientific advice in relation to the assessment of allergenicity in genetically modified foods. This would cover in particular: General consideration of allergenicity of genetically modified foods consideration of allergenicity specifically relevant to genetically modified foods Consideration of the decision-tree approach consideration and possible revision of the decision-tree for the assessment of allergenicity of genetically modified foods developed preliminarily by the June 2000 Joint FAO/WHO Consultation on Foods Derived from Biotechnology. development of standardised procedures for consideration of the use of individual criteria used in the decision tree, with a view to a harmonised application of the decision-tree consideration of the possibility of post market surveillance for...

In continuing their activities on risk assessment of microbiological hazards in foods FAO and WHO convened a joint expert consultation from 30 April to 4 May 2001 at FAO headquarters in Rome. The consultation focused on the finalization of the FAO/WHO risk assessments on Salmonella spp. in eggs and broiler chickens and Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods. This report summarizes the outcome of the meeting including the key findings of the above-mentioned risk assessments. It provides a preliminary response to the risk management questions on these pathogens posed by the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene. The report also provides some advice on how these risk assessments can be adapted and used by FAO and WHO member countries.

The manual is meant to provide guidance on the application of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point approach to the prevention and control of mycotoxin contamination of foods and feed. After a brief introduction on the nature of mycotoxins and their effects on human and animal health, the document describes the HACCP system, as defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and takes the reader through a series of illustrative examples (six) which show how the HACCP approach can be applied to prevent and control mycotoxin contamination. The examples include: Yellow maize kernals; maize-based animal feed; copra cake and meal; commercially produced peanut butter; apple juice; and pistachio nuts.

This is the first edition of guidelines for the preparation of working papers on contaminants for the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). They are based on guidelines for the preparation of working papers on mycotoxins that were prepared before the fifty-sixth meeting of the Committee and they are intended primarily for WHO Temporary Advisers, FAO Consultants, and Members who prepare working papers for the Committee.

This is the first edition of guidelines for the preparation of working papers on the intake of food additives for the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). They are intended primarily for WHO Temporary Advisers, FAO Consultants, and Members who prepare working papers on intake for the Committee.

A Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Foods Derived from Biotechnology was held at the Headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva from 29 May to 2 June 2000. A total of 27 experts, including authors of discussion papers, participated in the Consultation. The Ms Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Executive Director, Cluster of Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments, opened the Consultation on behalf of Directors-General of WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In her statement, Ms Singh indicated that biotechnology would provide powerful tools for the sustainable development of agriculture and food production. When appropriately integrated with other technologies for the food production, biotechnology can be of significant assistance in meeting the needs of...

This report is a further elaboration of the risk analysis process. The interaction of risk managers and risk assessors is considered in detail. The diagram (Fig. 1) highlights two points in the risk management cycle where interaction with risk assessors occurs. However, interaction may be necessary at other places as well. Risk assessment and cost benefit analysis are independent; science based activities conducted to provide the basis for risk management decisions. Risk assessment and risk management activities are typically not linear processes but iterative and fluid. Frequently, the risk management goals and the risk assessment activities will be revised and refined based on the scientific findings as the work progresses

Objectives: The consultation examined the technical documents on hazard characterization and exposure assessment of Salmonella spp. in broilers and eggs and L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods, and the draft guidelines on hazard characterization with the following objectives: 1. To provide scientific advice to FAO and WHO Member Countries and Codex on the risk assessment of Salmonella spp. in broilers and eggs and L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods. 2. To provide guidance to FAO and WHO Member Countries and Codex in the form of practical guidelines and methodology for hazard characterization of microbial pathogens. 3. To identify the knowledge gaps and information requirements needed to complete the above-mentioned risk assessments