CONffIDENCE project deliverables

The project will deliver both scientific-technical solutions for the monitoring and enforcement of food safety as well as information and training of the developed methods.This will include:

• Simple, fast, inexpensive multiplex screening assays (multi-analyte multi-class detection) that are fully validated for use by industry and enforcement laboratories. The scope of these technologies is described in more detail below.

• Impact demonstration. The developed technologies will be applied to a variety of samples thus allowing exposure assessments and creation of occurrence data bases.

• Dissemination of the results amongst key the stakeholders: scientific community, end-users and consumers

• Training workshops for governmental, agricultural and industrial end-users

• Education and training modules for students

The technologies

A selection of the most recent and advanced technologies will be applied:

• Multiplex flow cytometry

• Multiplex Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensor

• Multi-component dipstick assays

• Magneto-immunosensor

• Near Infrared (NIR) imaging methods

• Cytosensor

• Simplified mass spectrometric (MS) methods

• Automated contaminant profiling in MS data

The target contaminants and residues

The targeted analytes represent a balance of (i) emerging contaminants, (ii) chemical residues that are detected at high frequency and (iii) compounds which are not satisfactorily covered by current analytical methods:

• Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs):
  – dioxin-like PCBs (+ metabolites, e.g. PCB-OH)
  – brominated flame retardants
  – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs):
  – e.g. PFOS, PFOA
• Pesticides:
  – paraquat/diquat
  – dithiocabamates
• Veterinary drugs:
  – coccidiostats (lasalocid, monensin, salinomycin, narasin, nicarbazin)
  – antibiotics (tetracyclines, sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, tylosin)
  – malachite green
• Heavy metals:
  – inorganic arsenic species
  – methyl-mercury
• Biotoxins:
  – alkaloids (pyrrolizidine, tropane, ergot)
  – marine biotoxins (PSP/DSP)
  – mycotoxins (DON, ZEA, T-2/HT-2, fumonisins FB1, FB2)

The commodities

Based on their relevance for consumer safety and trade the following target commodities were selected for demonstrating the applicability and effectiveness of the new detection technologies :

• Fish/shellfish
• Fish feed
• Cereals
• Cereal-based feed
• Potatoes
• Vegetables
• Honey
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Meat