JOINT FAO/WHO EXPERT MEETING ON TROPANE ALKALOIDS (30 Mar - 3 April 2020)

Document Location: Raw Ingredients- Risk Assessment, Physical, Chemical, Microbiological

Alternate Name: N/A

Date Document Last Updated: 2020

Publisher: FAO and WHO        

Date Uploaded to Website:  July 2024

Overview

This document is an expert report on Tropane Alkaloids. Tropane Alkaloids (Hyoscyamine and scopolamine) are a concern for cereal based products. At high concentrations Tropane Alkaloids can cause hospitalization or death. These compounds can be found in many Solanaceae genera including Mandragora, Brugmansia, Datura, Duboisia, Hyoscyamus, Atropa, and Scopolia which can get mixed into various grains during processing. There is no Codex maximum levels (ML) nor a Code of Practice available for these contaminants.

This document provides a summary of current evidence as it relates to hyoscyamine and scopolamine (and some other tropane alkaloids). It provides an overall evaluation with regards to food products, guidance for dietary exposure assessment, and estimated margins of exposure in the Appendix.

Overall this report will be of use for suppliers when doing risk assessments and processing raw ingredients to ensure low exposure to these dangerous contaminants.

Link to Document

JOINT FAO/WHO EXPERT MEETING ON TROPANE ALKALOIDS Executive Summary 30 March – 3 April 2020