The first German total diet study (BfR MEAL Study) confirms highest levels of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in foods of animal origin

Mandy Stadion; Christin Hackethal; Katrin Blume; Birgit Wobst; Klaus Abraham; Carolin Fechner; Oliver Lindtner; Irmela Sarvan

doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2022.100459

The first German total diet study (BfR MEAL Study) confirms highest levels of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in foods of animal origin

Food Chem X. 2022 Sep 26:16:100459. doi: 10.1016/j.fochx.2022.100459. eCollection 2022 Dec 30.

Authors

Mandy Stadion¹, Christin Hackethal¹, Katrin Blume¹, Birgit Wobst¹, Klaus Abraham¹, Carolin Fechner¹, Oliver Lindtner¹, Irmela Sarvan¹

Affiliation

¹ German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.

Abstract

The first German Total Diet Study, called the BfR MEAL Study, generated a comprehensive dataset of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) in foods representative for the consumption habits in households in Germany. PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs are persistent organic pollutants. Dietary intake is considered to be the most relevant exposure pathway for humans. Levels were examined in 300 foods that were prepared as typically consumed by the population in Germany. Highest PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels were detected in animal-based foods such as fish, butter, dairy products, liver, and meat. The comparison of conventionally and organically produced foods revealed a trend to slightly higher contents in organically produced foods. Sampling discriminated by region and season showed no major differences. Analysed occurrence data will improve future dietary exposure and food safety assessments in Germany.

Keywords: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD (PubChem CID: 37270); 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF (PubChem CID: 38199); 1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF (PubChem CID: 41510); 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD (PubChem CID: 38251); 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF (PubChem CID: 51130); 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD (PubChem CID: 42540); 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF (PubChem CID: 42140); 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD (PubChem CID: 29575); 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF (PubChem CID: 51720); 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD (PubChem CID: 38439); 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF (PubChem CID: 42138); 2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF (PubChem CID: 43495); 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF (PubChem CID: 42128); 2,3,7,8-TCDD (PubChem CID: 15625); 2,3,7,8-TCDF (PubChem CID: 39929); BfR MEAL Study; Dioxin; Dioxin-like PCBs; OCDD (PubChem CID: 18636); OCDF (PubChem CID: 38200); Occurrence data; Organic and conventional type of production; PCB 105 (PubChem CID: 36188); PCB 114 (PubChem CID: 53036); PCB 118 (PubChem CID: 35823); PCB 123 (PubChem CID: 47650); PCB 126 (PubChem CID: 63090); PCB 156 (PubChem CID: 38019); PCB 157 (PubChem CID: 50891); PCB 167 (PubChem CID: 40479); PCB 169 (PubChem CID: 36231); PCB 189 (PubChem CID: 38306); PCB 77 (PubChem CID: 36187); PCB 81 (PubChem CID: 51043); Persistent organic pollutants; Regionality; Total Diet Study.