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EFSA assesses safety of green tea catechins

2018 m. April 19 d.

EFSA has assessed the safety of green tea catechins from dietary sources, following concerns regarding their possible harmful effects on the liver. EFSA concluded that catechins from green tea infusions and similar drinks are generally safe. When taken as food supplements, however, catechin doses at or above 800 mg/day may pose health concerns. Green tea is widely consumed for its purported health benefits, but there have also been reports in the EU and beyond of possible harmful effects. EFSA’s assessment of green tea catechins was triggered by concerns from Nordic countries following reported cases of liver damage possibly associated with the use of green tea products. Catechins are substances naturally present in green tea, the most abundant of which is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In its safety assessment, EFSA looked at possible links between the consumption of EGCG in green tea infusions and food supplements and liver damage. More information: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/180418

How to fight more effectively against animal diseases in the wildlife under discussion in Europe

2018 m. March 13 d.

On 8–9 March, Health and Consumers Directorate General (SANCO) of the European Commission jointly with the EC Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) office organised an international workshop on the issues of monitoring and management of contagious animal diseases in the wildlife in Sofia (Bulgaria). Responsible specialists from the EU Member States and third countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Turkey, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus) participated at the workshop. The event was opened and the opening speech was made by the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis. In his speech, he made an overview of the health situation in the wildlife in Europe and expressed his concerns about the spread and control of animal contagious diseases in the wildlife. Participants of the meeting emphasised the strengthening of the cooperation between competent authorities in the EU and third countries. During the workshop, major focus was placed on the monitoring of diseases of wild animals and application of preventive measures as well as on problems of coordinating these measures between individual countries. An overview of situations in relation to contagious diseases of wild and domestic animals (classical and African swine fever, avian flu, rabies, foot-and-mouth disease, etc.) as well as future prospects, methods of fighting against them and latest developments in their treatment were discussed. At the workshop, information on the spread of contagious diseases of wild animals between different countries was presented by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). A representative from Spain presented a new approach towards the fight against tuberculosis of wild and domestic animals. A specialist from the Netherlands shared his experience in fighting the avian flu. Representatives of certain countries (Ukraine, Czech, Lithuania) presented measures aimed at fighting the African swine fever, which are under implementation. The role of hunters in protecting the wildlife and its biodiversity and their contribution to combating contagious diseases of wild animals was discussed. “At this workshop, the role of hunters in fighting diseases in the wildlife was highlighted as an issue of particular importance. Close cooperation between hunter clubs and veterinary services was underlined particularly. The respect for biosafety measures at the time of hunting and dressing animals is requisite in order to stop the spread of the African swine fever between wild boar populations. All participants of the workshop agreed to the recommendation for specialists to continuously exchange information on strategies for the management of animal diseases, prevention and protection measures applied”, – commented Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service Mr Darius Remeika.

Lithuanian milk and meat products reach more and more markets worldwide

2018 m. March 06 d.

According to information of the State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS), Lithuanian producers are fairly successful in expanding the export of milk and meat and their products. In 2017, establishments exported more than 63 thousand tons of milk products and 12 thousand tons of meat and meat products. Compared to 2016, the export of milk products increased by 16 % whereas the export of meat increased by 17 %. In 2017, the export of canned milk increased most of all (by 72 %). Major markets for those products were Libya (68 %) and Hong Kong (12 %). The export of cheese increased by 14 %. Lithuanian cheeses were shipped to South Korea (18 %), the USA (18 %) and Armenia (15 %). Last year, new opportunities opened up for the export of ice cream produced in our country to China. More than 1.1 thousand tons of ice cream was exported. However, the expectation is that more ice cream will be exported after the producers have got established in the market of this enormous country as the consumption of ice cream in China accounts for nearly as many as 20 % of the overall global production Compared to 2016, export of certain milk products has also increased substantially: milk drinks (by 71 %), milk powder for human consumption (by 32 %), curds (by 29 %), whey by 15 %, cheeses and ice cream (by 14 % each) as well as other milk products, however, the delivery of butter to third countries decreased. Lithuania used to be among leading EU butter exporters to those countries. However, the amount of consigned butter decreased by as many as 91 % as major part of those products was sold by milk processing establishments on the EU market. The overview of meat export shows that, last year just like any other year before, the share of the export of poultry meat from Lithuania to third countries was the biggest. Last year compared to 2016, the export of this kind of meat increased by 31 %. Due to restrictions related to African swine fever (ASF) that are applied to Lithuania, the trade in pig meat and its products is difficult for meat product producers, therefore, the export of pig meat decreased by 54 % last year. “Due to joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and the SFVS, export negotiations are in most cases smooth and professional, the agreement of veterinary certificates is successful. Prior to approval of export permissions, competent specialists from third countries conduct strict checks at farm holdings and establishments in our country. Their favourable opinions and rapid expansion of markets reflect that foodstuffs produced in Lithuania comply with the supreme standards of the European Union and that they are recognised by consumers in many countries”, – said Mr Darius Remeika, Director of the SFVS. In 2017, permissions were received to export Lithuanian production to Japan (beef and chicken meat), to Algeria ((milk products, beef and meat products), Mexico (milk and milk products), Canada (eggs and egg products), Bosnia and Herzegovina (poultry meat), New Zealand (milk and milk products, frozen products containing beef and pig meat), United Arab Emirates (meat and meat products, eggs). In Mr D. Remeikas’ words, this year sees further negotiations with China on the export of feedingstuffs, beef and fish products, with the USA, Peru and Cuba on the export of meat products and others. According to the competent authority of Indonesia, questionnaires completed by 12 Lithuanian milk processing establishments were submitted. It is expected that before next year the establishments will be entitled to export their production to this Asian country.

Not a single case of rabies in Lithuania in two years

2018 m. February 06 d.

Lithuania is seeking to be included in the list of countries with no risk to get infected with rabies – the contagious disease, which is lethally dangerous both to humans and animals. Not long ago, this disease was one of major concerns in our country. However, in the past decade, the situation in Lithuania has been constantly improving, whereas in the past two years, there has been not a single case of wild or domestic animals infected with rabies. According to data of the rabies surveillance programme carried out by the State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS), not as single case of rabies was recorded in Lithuania in 2016–2017. Under the above programme, 600 samples of animals (dogs, cats, foxes and racoons) are analysed annually. No rabies have been recorded for domestic animals since 2013, whereas the disease was identified for wild animals (a fox and a racoon) in Ignalina district and in the border area with Belarus in 2015. There have been no fatal cases of rabies in humans recorded since 2007 when a 42-year old man was bitten by a dog while travelling in India. According to data of the Centre for Communicable Diseases and AIDS, since 2004, the number of persons injured by wild or domestic animals who approached the Centre has been decreasing from year to year. The substantial decrease of numbers of approaching persons started after the vaccination of wild animals against rabies had been started. The vaccination of wild animals has been carried out by the SFVS since 2006. In the spring and autumn each year, baits with the vaccine are distributed by planes. The vaccine used to be distributed all over the territory of the country, however, in the past year, this campaign was carried out only in the border areas with the Kaliningrad Region and Belarus. As from 2018, the vaccination of wild animals will be carried out only in the 50 km buffer zone bordering Belarus, Latvia and Poland as no cases of rabies have been recorded in the neighbouring Kaliningrad Region in the past three years, either. Despite of the fact that no cases of rabies have been recorded, the SFVS reminds that any contacts with unfamiliar, stray or wild animals should be avoided, whereas in case of injuries caused by domestic or wild animals, one has to immediately seek medical assistance. One has to bear in mind that, in case the clinical symptomatology stage is reached, the rabies is always a fatal disease because of the progressing encephalopathy. The global practice most frequently deals with wild and domestic dogs infected with this disease, however, any warm-blooded animals (e. g., cats, ferrets, rats, foxes, bats, monkeys, etc.) may get infected with this disease and may spread it. The only effective way to fight this dangerous disease is vaccination of domestic and wild animals. All owners of pet animals (dogs, cats and ferrets) must vaccinate their animals against rabies at least once per 12 months, or, where a long acting vaccine is applied, animals must be vaccinated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The veterinarian who has rendered the service must make records of the date of the vaccination and the date of its duration in the certificate of vaccination or pet passports. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) grouped all its member states into the following risk groups as regards rabies: no risk, low risk and high risk countries. The following countries are considered completely free from rabies: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, most isles and islands (Bermuda Islands, Canary Islands, Maldives, Malta, etc.). As regards the Baltic Countries and the neighbouring countries, Estonia is the only country considered free from the risk of rabies. Big part of Asia (India, Thailand, Iraq, Iran, etc.) and nearly all African countries are considered as high risk countries.

Acrylamide levels in food have to be reduced

2018 m. January 29 d.

As from 11 April 2018, a regulation laying down that food producers have to substantially reduce the levels of the substance, which develops in food and is hazardous to human health, i. e. acrylamide, will come into force all over the EU. Establishments producing baked, roasted, fried foodstuffs or establishments producing dishes for catering as well as farmers growing certain kinds of food plants (potatoes, cereals) will have to adapt to the new regulation. After the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) had confirmed the previous considerations that the presence of acrylamide in food may increase the risk of oncological diseases in consumers in all age groups, the European Commission (EC) established lower allowed levels for the presence of acrylamide in high risk foodstuffs and adopted measures for the reduction of this contaminant during production. The most frequently consumed products with potential presence of acrylamide are: roasted or fried potatoes, potato chips, coffee (acrylamide is produced in the process of roasting coffee beans), cookies, crackers, wafers, gingerbreads, cakes, crisp or soft bread, etc. The EC document lays down that producers of risky products will have to continuously monitor the levels of acrylamide in their production, select samples and analyse the testing results. In case of detection of increased levels of acrylamide, they will have to apply the acrylamide reduction measures specified in the regulation. For example, the good manufacturing practice for bread and other bakery products shows that the acrylamide levels in final products can be substantially reduced by increasing the duration of the yeast fermentation process, regulating the baking temperature and time, visual assessment of the colour (browning) of products. Catering establishments, in order to reduce the acrylamide levels in roasted or fried dishes, in particular in French fries, will have to apply colour palettes / manuals. It was confirmed by research that the lighter the colour of French fries is, the lower is the acrylamide level, therefore, dark colour, heavily browned French fries should not be served to consumers. The same rule applies to fried bread. Acrylamide is a carcinogenic substance, which is produced from free asparagine (amino acid), which is naturally present in products, and sugars when potato, cereal products, coffee and coffee substitutes are treated in high temperatures (roasted, fried or baked). For more details on acrylamide please see: http://vmvt.lt/maisto-sauga/verslui/akrilamidas

Events

2015 y. March 06 d.

Events

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State food and veterinary service
State budgetary institution The Register of Legal Entities
code: 188601279

Address: Siesikų str. 19,
07170 Vilnius Lithuania
Tel. +370 5 240 4361
Fax. +370 5 240 4362
E-mail: info@vmvt.lt

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