April 27, 2010

Fluoride in volcanic ash food risk 'negligible'

Based on available information, the potential risk posed by the fluoride in volcanic ash through contamination of fish, milk, meat and feed in the EU is negligible, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Therefore, the risk for human and animal health through food and feed is not considered to be of concern in the EU.

The advice was made public in the wake of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland on April 14. EFSA has issued scientific advice on the possible short-term risks from fluoride in ash for food and feed safety, after a request for advice was made by the European Commission.

EFSA may also deliver advice on the long-term and indirect risks in coming weeks as further data become available on the level and composition of any ash deposits in the EU.

Due to a lack of data on the composition of ash-fall in the ES, EFSA is focusing on fluoride as it has been identified in most scientific publications on past volcanic eruptions around the world as the main component that could pose a short-term risk to food and feed safety.

Dietary exposure to fluoride in volcanic ash for fish is usually through contaminated drinking water and for animals, such as cattle and sheep, through eating ash deposited on grass and soil.

However, EFSA acknowledges in its assessment a number of uncertainties, such as the dispersal of ash in the air, how much ash has fallen in the EU, the lack of data on the composition of the ash-fall in the EU and the geographical areas potentially affected.