MEMO/01/125
Brussels, 6. April 2001
European research projects on food quality
Food quality and safety have become a matter of public concern in recent
months. In the current EU framework programme for research around 500
million Euro are spent on food safety and quality alone. The European
Commission has so far funded 120 projects on food worth 177 million Euro
and 220 projects on agriculture worth 341 million Euro. The new research
framework Programme (2002-2006) will also take account of concerns voiced
by citizens – the Commission proposal foresees a budget of 600 million Euro
for research into food safety and health risks. Moreover, the laboratories of
the Joint Research Centre’s laboratory for health and consumer affairs
conducts research in the fields of food safety, GMOs and risk assessment of
consumer goods. This research effort is part of a larger picture, aiming to
create networks of scientific excellence and competence in the food safety
sector. The Commission’s policy is to realise a European Research Area in
the field of food-related research.
The following selection of projects illustrates the variety of issues addressed:
1) The use of optical biosensors for the detection of veterinary drug residues in foods
The project’s objective is to demonstrate a novel screening system for detection of
veterinary drug residues in foods. It is based on adaptation of a commercially
available optical biosensor technology for routine food analysis by the meat and dairy
industries as well as regulatory authorities. A prototype instrument and assay kits are
being constructed to demonstrate the following unique advantages as compared to
the current state of the art: high capacity (up to 600 samples per day); short analysis
time; fully automated sample handling and analysis. The technology, which is
suitable for a wide range of substances, will be demonstrated for
clenbuterol/trenbolone,
sulphamethazine/sulphadiazine
and
enrofloxacin/ciprofloxacin.
Scientist in charge: Dr. Karl-Erik Hellenaes, The National Swedish Food
Administration (Tel: +46 18175708)
EU funding: 999.057 €
EU contact: Alessandra Luchetti (Tel: 32-2-296 20 22)
2) The preservation of frozen food quality and safety throughout the distribution chain
Frozen foods continue to take up an increasing proportion of our daily food
consumption in Europe. This preservation technique is often perceived as a method
to produce cheap and convenient products for consumers. However, technical
innovation could focus on techniques, which increasingly produce new high quality
frozen foods with a good safety record.
The weak link in bringing these innovations to the benefit of the citizen often in the
passage from factory to kitchen, the distribution chain. The interest of this project is
to bring new techniques and guidance for those involved in this distribution process,
such as retailers.
Changes in composition of frozen foods and the monitoring and control of
temperature throughout distribution could lead to an increase in the number of high
quality frozen food products in the retail chain. Therefore, studies of deterioration due
to temperature fluctuations and of the effects of changes in composition of food as
well as guidelines on temperature monitoring and control are the main focus of this
project.
Scientist in charge: Dr. Chris Kennedy, Procter Department of Food Science,
University of Leeds (Tel: +44 113 233 2981
EU-contribution: 389 900 €
EU-contact: Liam Breslin (Tel: 32-2 295 04 77)
3) Evaluation of the Prevalence of the Coeliac Disease and its Genetic Components
in the European Population
Cœliac disease is an autoimmune type disease characterised by intolerance to
gluten (gluten is a major food ingredient extracted from cereals like wheat, rye and
barley). In persons with a certain genetic disposition, gluten ingestion results in
intestinal mucosa damage and malabsorption of essential nutrients. Three types of
studies are undertaken to shed more light on this disease and its treatment:
1. The epidemiology study will provide an estimate of the number of Europeans
with cœliac disease and allow for identification and early treatment of 'silent' cœliac
people who are so far not detected.
2. The genetic study will identify links between gene(s) and the cœliac disease and
clarify the contribution of genetic components and their association with other
genetic markers.
3. The pathogenesis study will clarify what damage is done to the intestinal mucosa
and provide information on factors involved in the mucosal damage.
The project’s aim is have a new simple blood test, suitable for large population
screening and allowing an easier and earlier detection of the disease as well as new
therapeutic strategies. Also, a genetic test based on DNA analysis may potentially be
developed in the future.
Scientist in charge: Bruno Jarry, Amylum Belgium N.V. (Tel: +32-53.73.36.75
EU-contribution: 3 958 791 €
EU-contact: Jürgen Lucas (Tel: +32-2 296 41 52)
4) The European network for research co-ordination in organic farming
The objective of this project is to create a database with an inventory of organic
farming research in Europe (more than 204 European research projects) and the
preparation of a White book highlighting priorities for future research. Moreover, it is
foreseen to exchange and standardise research methodologies in organic farming.
Finally, the project is to provide a direct contribution to the design of Community
legislation on organic husbandry and contribute to shaping agro-environmental
measures and strategies for CAP reform.
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Scientist in charge: Jordi Girona, CSCI Barcelona (Tel: +34 3 2040600)
EU-contribution: 212 000 €
EU-contact: Massimo Burioni (Tel: +32 2 2961434)
5) Minimising stress inducing factors on cattle during handling and transport to
improve animal welfare and meat quality
The purpose of the project is to gather sufficient data and to develop methods for
controlling and minimising stress-inducing factors during handling and transport of
cattle. It plans to develop guidelines and recommendations for end-users, such as
the meat and vehicle industries and policy makers, and to improve animal welfare
and meat quality on European level. This can be fulfilled through optimisation of
design of animal handling areas, transport vehicles, and associated transport
conditions, and by promoting an IT-supported effective logistic system. Emphasis is
given to vibrations of the vehicle, transport time, air quality, as well as development
of a system to monitor the environment in the transport box and the performance of
the driver.
Scientist in charge: Ingrid Karlsson (Tel: +46 18 671000)
EU-contribution: 1 800 000 €
EU-contact: Michel van den Bossche (Tel: +32 2 2965712)
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