Imported food and erucic acid

Erucic acid is a natural component of mustard seed oil and some rapeseed oils. Although there have been no confirmed reports of erucic acid causing health problems in humans, high levels have been found to cause fatty deposits in the hearts of test animals. However, studies suggest that this effect disappears over time once erucic acid is removed from the diet. It is possible that frequent and regular consumption of high levels of erucic acid may add to the risk of heart disease in humans. The Erucic Acid in Food Regulations 1977 in the UK set a legal limit of 5 per cent erucic acid in the fat or oil component of foods with a content of more than 5 per cent. In the case of products directly or implicitly aimed at infants or young children, the minimum fat content qualification does not apply.

A small study carried out recently by Birmingham City Council on formal samples of pickles, sauces and vegetables preserved in oil found elevated levels of erucic acid in a range of imported products. Among the products assessed were a chilli black bean sauce from China that, in a fat content of 30 per cent showed 23.8 per cent erucic acid. Another, a chilli pickle from Pakistan, showed 46 per cent erucic acid in a fat content of 20 per cent.

The results from a survey carried out by the Food Standards Agency in the summer of 2004, in co-operation with a number of local authorities, also reveal elevated levels of erucic acid in some similar products tested. All affected products were found to have been manufactured in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or China.

Based on a risk assessment of the two surveys, the Agency advised full trade withdrawals of the affected products and issued a Food Hazard Warning to local authorities on 2 September 2004. Information was published in a press release and on the FSA website to inform consumers and the trade of this issue.

While there have been no confirmed reports of erucic acid causing health problems in humans the Food Standards Agency has, on a precautionary basis, advised people not to eat the affected imported pickles, sauces and preserved vegetables. The affected products were found mainly in small food shops and cash and carry outlets serving ethnic communities, and represent a small part of the pickles and preserve market aimed primarily at the Chinese and South Asian communities.

In addition to the Agency?s Food Hazard Warnings, contact has also been made with the relevant competent authorities in the originating countries so that they may undertake further investigations to ascertain the reason for the elevated erucic acid levels. The European Commission has also been alerted to the problem through its Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) so that it may inform other member states of the problem. The Food Standards Agency has notified ports in the UK to be on the lookout and to sample similar products at point of entry into the UK.

The Food Standards Agency has contacted relevant importers, who instigated full trade withdrawal, and the distributors of the affected products. All implicated products at the shops where samples were taken have already been withdrawn from sale following visits by the relevant local authorities.

Local authorities responsible for food safety have powers to carry out routine checks in all food premises, in this case specifically to check that products comply with the Erucic Acid in Food Regulations 1977. If non-complying products are found on sale officers have been advised to trace their distribution to ensure that they are removed from retail sale or from use in catering outlets. They have also been asked to check similar products and lines from the same producers and distributors to ensure that they do not exceed the levels allowed by the Regulations. Local authorities have been requested to notify the Food Standards Agency where offending products are found on sale to ensure that appropriate action is being taken.

Local authorities and the health authorities at sea- and airports in the UK have the power to carry out checks on food entering the EU from third countries. With foods intended for human consumption which are not of animal origin, action can be taken under the Imported Food Regulations 1997 to ensure compliance with safety requirements. These checks may involve laboratory testing for chemical and microbiological contaminants, normally by a public analyst or the public health laboratory of the Health Protection Agency. Where consignments fail to meet the set standards action can be taken to require goods to be re-processed, re-exported or destroyed, depending on the nature or extent of the contravention.

Local authorities and port health authorities routinely sample and check foods on sale and imported into the UK. During 2003/04 the Agency provided additional grants totalling £600,000 to over 100 local authorities and port health authorities for the purpose of enhanced imported food sampling and surveillance. As part of this exercise enforcement officers visited a total of 627 premises, and 3278 samples were taken. Analyses included checks for heavy metals, pesticide residues, contaminants, colours, GMO, irradiation, labelling and composition, and microbiological testing. A summary report will be published shortly on the Food Standards Agency website. A similar exercise is being carried out for 2004/05 as part of the Agency?s work to enhance UK checks on imported foods.

Where port health authorities have difficulties in meeting additional sampling costs associated with concerns about erucic acid, the authorities have been asked to contact the Agency and in such cases funding may be available to assist towards analytical costs.

The Food Standards Agency collates details of all unsatisfactory samples but would expect local authorities to take action and to notify the Agency under the Food Safety Act, Code of Practice 16 where they become aware of a product on sale which does not meet food safety requirements, and may be on wider sale in the UK, Europe or internationally. The Agency might then issue further Food Hazard Warnings to local authorities and advice to consumers in order to protect public health.

References

1 Erucic Acid in Food Regulations SI 1977/691

2 SI 1997/2537 The Imported Food Regulations 1997

Sarah Appleby is the head of Imported Foods Division at the Food Standards Agency

www.food.gov.uk

FSA press release on erucic acid

Full details of the Agency and Birmingham City Council surveys can also be found at Survey results