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Integrated risk assessment of selected mycotoxins in fresh produce and derived food products throughout the food chain, affected by climate changes and globalization Evelien Van de Perre, Liesbeth Jacxsens, Bruno De Meulenaer nutriFOODchem Unit, Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Veg-i-trade project Fruits and vegetables are an import part of a healthy diet, and their consumption is expected to increase in the future because of health promotion. However, climate change and globalization will effect their safety. In order to maintain the desired level of food safety in Europe, it is necessary to explore new food contamination pathways and approaches to deal with these projected changes. An imported food safety problem is the presence of emerging toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins on fresh fruits, vegetables and derived products. This research is performed in the frame of veg-i- trade project (www.veg-i-trade.org). Objective The objective of the research is to develop a farm-to-fork risk assessment model to predict the mycotoxin concentration in fresh and derived products in order to predict future risks due to climate change and growing import of foods from third countries. We will focus on new emerging mycotoxins (Alternaria species, ochratoxin A and patulin). Ochratoxin A Alternariol monomethyl ether Alternariol Patulin Research Collecting data of mycotoxin concentration on dried plant, fresh and derived products in cooperation with trading countries as Brazil, Egypt, South-Africa and India in order to make a risk ranking, risk prioritization of mycotoxin/produce type. Screening with a LC/MS method on tomatoes, bell peppers, soft red fruits and onions and derived products for ochratoxin A, Alternaria species (alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and altenuene) and patulin. Identification of the fresh supply chain. The mould growth and the mycotoxin production will be studied as function of some important parameters (e.g. time, temperature, package atmosphere). Different scenarios (globalization and climate change) will be applied to estimate the effect on the mould growth and mycotoxin production. Consumption data Predicting the mycotoxin exposure from fresh and derived products by developing and risk ranking a farm-to-fork risk assessment model. Future results All this information will be integrated in order to develop a farm-to-fork risk assessment model for the selected cases. In this way selected mycotoxins related to specific plant products can be evaluated through different scenarios. Also a probabilistic risk assessment will be conducted using the data of mycotoxin concentration on dried plant products and fresh produce and their derived products. The output will be used to develop different scenarios to measure the impact on mycotoxin exposure due to trade and import from third countries and to feed the discussion on the food sovereignty. For more information: Tel. ++32 9 264.61.61 Fax ++32 9 264.62.15 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] http://www.nutriFOODchem.UGent.be http://www.veg-i-trade.org/