Jørn Gry

EuroFIR eBASIS: application for health claims submissions and evaluations.

Background:The European Food Information Resource (EuroFIR) network has established the eBASIS (Bioactive Substances in Food Information System) online food composition and biological effects database for plant-derived bioactive compounds (phytochemicals). On the basis of submitted evidence, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) expert panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies assesses whether claims made under articles 13.1, 13.5 or 14 of the Regulation (EC) 1924/2006, which governs the use of nutrition and health claims on foods, are scientifically justified. This report evaluates the eBASIS biological effects database in the preparation and evaluation of health claims dossiers.Methods:The eBASIS biological effects database is a compilation of expert-evaluated data extracted from the literature, prioritising human intervention studies to investigate health effects of phytochemicals. Currently included are >750 records from 445 studies providing data on 56 validated biomarkers, mainly relating to cardio-metabolic and bone health outcomes. The data cover 144 bioactive compounds from 17 compound classes. Using the EFSA Register of Questions and the database of general function health claims, we identified claims relating to phytochemicals made under articles 13.1, 13.5 and 14 and compared them with the eBASIS database to identify overlap between them.Results:The EFSA online health claims database contains 4240 submissions under article 13.1, of which 2157 pertain to plants or plant-based bioactive compounds; 496 of these relate to plants or bioactive compounds included in the eBASIS biological effects database. Out of the 18 current 13.5 ‘new function’ claims on EFSAs register of questions, 7 are for plants or plant-based bioactive compounds, of which 6 are included in eBASIS. Of the 222 defined article 14 claims, 21 pertain to plants or plant-based bioactive compounds, of which 19 are in eBASIS.Conclusions:There is extensive overlap between eBASIS and the submitted health claims that relate to plant-based bioactive compounds. EuroFIR eBASIS is a useful tool for regulators to independently check completeness of health claims applications relating to phytochemicals and is a potentially valuable resource to assist claimants in the compilation of dossiers on functional foods and health claims.

Failure of the cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) to induce tumors in the A/J mouse lung tumor model.

We studied whether the cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) or 4-(carboxy)phenylhydrazine (CP) induce lung adenomas in the A/J mouse lung tumor model. For 26 weeks female mice were fed a semisynthetic diet where 11 or 22% of the diet was replaced by freeze-dried mushrooms. The intake of the mushroom diets was equivalent to an intake of agaritine, the major phenylhydrazine derivative occurring in the mushroom, of 92 or 166 mg/kg body weight per day. The intake of CP was 106 mg/kg body weight per day. Neither the freeze-dried mushroom nor CP induced statistically significant increased numbers of lung adenomas in female A/J mice in the administered dosages.

Information on plant foods in eBASIS: what is in a correct botanical scientific name?

This paper presents the plant information included in the eBASIS (BioActive Substances in Foods Information System) database on composition and biological activity of selected bioactive compounds from European plant/mushroom foods with putative beneficial and/or toxic effects. The European Food Information Resource (EuroFIR)-NETTOX Plant List (2007) presents scientific and vernacular names in 15 European languages for around 325 major European plant/mushroom foods and also for different parts of these foods. This list and its predecessor, the NETTOX List of Food Plants, have been used by national food authorities and within the European Union for consideration of plants and mushrooms that have been used to a significant degree up to 1997 and are therefore not covered by the novel food regulation (European Parliament and Council of the European Union, 1997). The species and the plant part studied are insufficiently characterised in many scientific papers. This paper informs about the naming of plants and mushrooms as an aid for scientists who are not botanists or mycologists themselves. Knowledge on scientific names used, including synonyms, may also be important for finding all relevant papers when searching the literature. In many cases, vernacular/trivial names in, for example, English do not uniquely identify the species. Finally, recommendations are given to assist researchers and reviewers of papers dealing with botanical/mycological information.

Alkaloids in edible lupin seeds

The report reviews the toxicity data on inherent natural toxicants in lupin seeds, especially quinolizidin alkaloids. Lupin seeds are increasingly used in the Nordic countries, partially substituting wheat flour in certain foods. An estimation of the risk by consuming foods containing lupin seeds in the Nordic countries and recommendations to better ensure the safe use of these seeds in foods are given.

The European Food Information Resource Network (EuroFIR) internet-deployed database (EuroFIR BASIS): an online composition and biological effects database of plant-based bioactive compounds

There is growing evidence that certain non-nutritive bioactive compounds, in particular secondary metabolites of plants, may promote optimal human health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Composition data on bioactive compounds are an essential cornerstone in nutrition and health research; for example, in the assessment of dietary exposure to polyphenols. Biological effects data may also have valuable applications; for example, in the assessment of health claims. EuroFIR is developing the unique EuroFIR BASIS, which includes data on the composition and biological effects of bioactive compounds. EuroFIR BASIS involves twenty-eight participants from seventeen countries, organised into three task groups: composition; biological; plant source. Experts in composition and biological effects of specific compound classes and health and disease outcomes are designated to their appropriate task groups, which are coordinated by composition and biological effects database managers respectively. Data from the published literature are critically assessed and extracted for inclusion in the database via input forms designed for the purpose. Data are evaluated and graded using predefined criteria. A quality assurance system for food composition data developed by the EuroFIR Network was applied to EuroFIR BASIS. Major European food plants are listed and supplementary information on compound classes and biomarkers is provided. EuroFIR BASIS is searchable by compound, plant food or biological effect, outputs are user driven and reports can be exported to chosen spreadsheet formats. An example of a composition report extract is shown.