New EU maximum levels for dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in livers of terrestrial animals and in sheep liver

In vertebrates, the liver is the central metabolic organ for detoxification. Certain environmental contaminants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are increasingly deposited in the fat of this organ […]. When the regulation (EU) No. 1067/2013 came into force, the reference value was changed from fat to the wet weight of the liver. In line with this change, the previous maximum levels were increased […]. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has assessed the health implications of the new maximum levels […]. In the case of sheep liver, the increase of the maximum level as part of the change of the reference value from fat to wet weight means that even one-off consumption of a 250 g portion of sheep liver containing dioxins and dl-PCBs in the range of the maximum level of 2 pg WHO-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ per gram of wet weight would exhaust 51% of the tolerable weekly intake (TWI). If in addition the daily intake of dioxins and dl-PCBs from the consumption of other foods (apart from sheep liver) is taken into account, even the consumption of sheep liver on a single occasion may lead to the TWI being exceeded. In general, the German population very rarely consumes sheep liver. Accordingly, the BfR concludes that due to infrequent consumption, the increase in the maximum level for sheep liver is unlikely to lead to adverse health effects for the general population. However, there are population groups from other geographical areas living in Germany who more frequently eat sheep offal and hence also regularly consume sheep liver or sheep liver products. This was shown by a survey conducted with Greek, Italian and Turkish immigrants (only females) living in Germany. For these special consumer groups, adverse health effects […] are possible. […] the BfR recommends that consumers generally avoid the consumption of sheep liver. In contrast, sheep, lamb and mutton meat can be safely consumed.DE; en; efsa-focal-point@bfr.bund.d