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Frequently Asked Questions on dioxins in food
BfR FAQ, 10 January 2011
During in-house controls carried out by a compound feed manufacturer in the German region of Schleswig-Holstein, feed fats of plant origin were found to be contaminated with dioxins. Apparently, industrial fatty acids had been mixed in with feed fats of plant origin. Various poultry and pork fattening farms, laying hen farms as well as milk production farms received and fed feed with contaminated fats. The regional control authorities of the German Länder have analysed meat, egg and milk samples from the farms that were affected for their dioxin concentration. In some of these samples, the dioxin concentration in meat and eggs was found to exceed the maximum residue limit that is in force in the European Union.
Yet these do not constitute a direct health hazard for consumers. However, in light of preventive consumer protection, dioxin contamination should be minimised as much as possible. An exceedance of the maximum residue limits in foodstuffs is forbidden. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has compiled questions and answers on dioxins, health risks and the maximum limits in food.