Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
We regularly see product recalls by the FASFC due to an excessive level of these alkaloids. Rightly so, since ingesting too high a dose of alkaloids over a long period can lead to liver disease.
Pascal Brysse
What are pyrrolizidine alkaloids?
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are plant toxins. Some plants produce toxins to protect themselves against natural enemies. Alkaloids occur naturally in many plant species. There are more than 500 different pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can occur in more than 6,000 plant species.
How do pyrrolizidine alkaloids end up in our food?
Because PAs occur in plants, food can contain traces of this substance. During harvesting, for example, other plants can get mixed in, resulting in small amounts of alkaloids being present in the final product. A well-known example is herbal tea, where other plants can get mixed in while gathering the herb leaves. They can also occur in honey, as bees use pollen from plants that contain these substances.
What are the health effects of ingestion?
Ingesting pyrrolizidine alkaloids does not initially cause any negative effects on human health. With high, regular intake, they can lead to liver damage. However, the chance of consuming large amounts of PAs through a varied diet is small.
Legislation
To protect consumers, European legal limits are being developed for tea and herbal infusions, culinary herbs (where the frequent high contamination of oregano is well known), spices (cumin seeds) and food supplements based on plants and pollen.
Following EFSA's negative opinion on pyrrolizidine alkaloids from 2017, the European Commission is proposing a limit of 400 mcg/kg for PAs in food supplements.
AMNorman and pyrrolizidine alkaloids
AMNorman's experts support companies in meeting all FASFC requirements. This can take the form of advice or internal audits carried out by our experts. We also help with the risk analysis (HACCP) of your raw materials and process. Together, we reduce the risk of product recalls.
Want to know more about chemical contaminants, HACCP analysis, internal audits? Let's meet!
