Information and News
In cases where the science is insufficiently developed to support an IFST Information Statement IFST has prepared a summary of relevant publications and information sources on the following topics:
In 2002, IFST concluded that, until there is substantially greater scientific evidence on such matters as the mechanism of formation of acrylamide in food, the nature and extent of uptake from food (and other sources) by humans, and the relationship between acrylamide in food and cancer in humans, it was not yet appropriate to issue an Information Statement on acrylamide in food. Meanwhile instead IFST provided this page of Acrylamide Information & News from reputable sources to serve to keep readers informed about developments. This was done up to 2012. The items appear in chronological order. Now that in 2012 the IFST Scientific Committee has published its Information Statement on Acrylamide in Food it also agreed to retain the “Acrylamide Information and News” page as a useful timeline and a valuable resource with links to original sources.
The presence of furan in food is a potential concern because, based on high-dose animal tests, furan is considered possibly carcinogenic to humans. With the current lack of scientific evidence on such matters as the mechanism of formation of furan in food, the nature and extent of uptake from food by humans, and the relationship between low levels of furan in food and cancer in humans, it is not yet appropriate to issue an Information Statement on furan in food. Meanwhile instead IFST is providing Furan Information & News compiled from reputable sources to serve to keep readers informed about developments.
There is a plethora of news about the spread of avian influenza H5N1 strain. IFST has also published an
Information Statement, which providing scientific background to avian influenza, aims to concern itself closely with the potential food and food safety implications. However, it also takes in information relating to planning for coping with a potential human pandemic because of the likely severe impact of the latter on the growing/rearing, manufacture and distribution of food.
IFST takes every possible care in compiling, preparing and issuing the information contained in these pages, but can accept no liability whatsoever in connection with it. Nothing in it should be construed as absolving anyone from complying with legal requirements. The contents are provided for general information and guidance.