Description:
Stakeholders are the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), the Ministry of Public Health, the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA), the European Commission and the Community Reference Laboratories/National Reference Laboratories (CRL/NRL) Network for Marine Biotoxins.
Natural toxins in food (mycotoxins, phycotoxins and plant toxins) are considered important factors in the etiology of human and animal diseases. In the case of phycotoxins, there is a need for novel (validated) methods of analysis, which are more efficient and effective as compared to existing official methods, which are largely based on rodent assays. Furthermore, data are needed on the occurrence of specific phycotoxins in selected matrices. Moreover, the need exists to generate and deliver information, making risk assessments possible.
Research objectives:
The general objective is to contribute to efficient and effective control of food safety in the domain of natural toxins. In this project the focus is on phycotoxins, where analytical methods have to be developed and (interlaboratorily) validated. Additional data are required (and analytical tools have to be developed) about the occurrence and significance of specific phycotoxins in selected matrices. Where possible, the project activities will be carried out in interaction with other (national and international) parties.
Results and products:
The project will result in improvement of existing methods for phycotoxin determination and will enable faster response to new requests (food safety control and monitoring, emerging phycotoxins, risk assessment). The results will be documented as (adjusted) standard operating protocols, RIKILT reports and/or scientific publications. In addition, results will be disseminated through presentations at workshops/conferences. |
