Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsContamination ControlRegulatoryMicrobiologicalInternational Standards/Harmonization

New EU Maximum Levels for Mycotoxin Ochratoxin A

licorice

Credit: nataliaaggiato (nataliaaggiato-470329) via Pixabay

October 14, 2022

The European Commission (EC) recently updated its regulation on maximum levels (MLs) for ochratoxin A, a type of mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi, in foods. Ochratoxin A may be carcinogenic to consumers, and is formed during sun drying and storage of crops. The growth of the mycotoxin can be prevented by employing good drying and storage practices.

The changes were made based on the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) 2020 scientific opinion on the level of exposure to ochratoxin A that may pose a public health risk. Although MLs for the mycotoxin were already established for certain foods in a prior EC regulation, the new regulation sets MLs for certain foodstuffs for which no MLs have been described, as well as amends MLs for certain commodities based on the most current available scientific knowledge.

Specifically, the regulation establishes MLs for dried fruit other than dried vine fruit, certain licorice products, dried herbs, certain ingredients for herbal infusions, certain oilseeds, pistachio nuts, cocoa powder, non-alcoholic malt beverages, and date syrup. The regulation also lowers existing MLs for bakery products, dried vine fruit, roasted coffee, and soluble coffee, as well as expands standing provisions for specific spices to all spices.

The updated MLs for each food commodity are as follows:

  • Unprocessed cereals: 5.0 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg)
  • All products derived or processed from unprocessed cereals, with certain exceptions: 3.0 μg/kg
  • Cereals placed on the market for the final consumer: 3.0 μg/kg
  • Bakery wares, cereal snacks, and breakfast cereals not containing oilseeds, nuts, or dried fruit: 2.0 μg/kg
  • Bakery wares, cereal snacks, and breakfast cereals containing at least 20 percent dried vine fruit and/or dried figs: 4.0 μg/kg
  • Other bakery wares, cereal snacks, and breakfast cereals containing oilseeds, nuts, and/or dried fruit: 3.0 μg/kg
  • Non-alcoholic malt beverages: 3.0 μg/kg
  • Wheat gluten not placed on the market for the final consumer: 8.0 μg/kg
  • Dried vine fruit (currants, raisins, and sultanas) and dried figs: 8.0 μg/kg
  • Other dried fruit: 2.0 μg/kg
  • Date syrup: 15 μg/kg
  • Roasted coffee beans and ground roasted coffee, excluding soluble coffee: 3.0 μg/kg
  • Roasted soluble coffee (instant coffee): 5.0 μg/kg
  • Wine (including sparkling wine, excluding liqueur wine and wine with an alcoholic strength of no less than 15 percent by volume) and fruit wine: 2.0 μg/kg
  • Aromatized wine, aromatized wine-based drinks, and aromatized wine product cocktails: 2.0 μg/kg
  • Grape juice, reconstituted concentrated grape juice, grape nectar, grape must and concentrated grape must as reconstituted, placed on the market for the final consumer: 2.0 μg/kg
  • Processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children, and baby foods: 0.50 μg/kg
  • Dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children: 0.50 μg/kg
  • Spices, including dried spices, except Capsicum: 15.0 μg/kg
  • Capsicum (dried fruits thereof, whole or ground, including chilies, chili powder, cayenne, or paprika): 20.0 μg/kg
  • Mixtures of spices: 15.0 μg/kg
  • Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza inflate, and other species) root, including as an ingredient in herbal infusions: 20.0 μg/kg
  • Licorice extract for use in food, particularly beverages and confectionary: 80.0 μg/kg
  • Licorice confectionary containing more than 97 percent licorice extract on a dry basis: 50.0 μg/kg
  • Other licorice confectionary: 10.0 μg/kg
  • Dried herbs: 10.0 μg/kg
  • Ginger roots for use in herbal infusions: 15.0 μg/kg
  • Marshmallow roots, dandelion roots, and orange blossoms for use in herbal infusions or in coffee substitutes: 20.0 μg/kg
  • Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, melon (including watermelon) seeds, hempseeds, and soybeans: 5.0 μg/kg
  • Pistachios to be subjected to sorting, or other physical treatment, before being placed on the market for the final consumer or used as an ingredient in food: 10.0 μg/kg
  • Pistachios placed on the market for the final consumer or for use as an ingredient in food: 5.0 μg/kg
  • Cocoa powder: 3.0 μg/kg

The regulation notes that additional monitoring on the presence of ochratoxin A in cheese and ham is necessary before establishing MLs for those commodities.

The regulation will go into effect on January 1, 2023. Foods subject to the regulation that are legally marketed prior to January 1, 2023 may remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or use-by date.

KEYWORDS: EU European Commission maximum levels mycotoxins ochratoxin A

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Food Type
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Personal Hygiene/Handwashing
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Contamination Control
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

FoodSafetyMattersFinal-900x550-(002).jpg

Ep. 195. Dr. Christopher Daubert: The Value of a Food Science Education

Students returning their lunch trays in a cafeteria

California Bill Would Remove Ultra-Processed Foods from School Lunches

Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.

Staying Compliant With FSMA

Events

June 26, 2025

How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life

Live: June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn how to conduct challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, including the common challenges encountered, laboratory selection, and use of predictive models.

May 11, 2026

The Food Safety Summit

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • EU flags

    New EU Maximum Levels for Contaminants in Foods: Aflatoxins, Metals, and More

    See More
  • bowl of white rice

    EU’s New Maximum Levels for Inorganic Arsenic in Certain Foods

    See More
  • unprocessed wheat grains

    EU Sets New Limits for Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol in Unprocessed Grains, Among Other Foods

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Food-Forensics-3D.jpg

    Food Forensics Handbook Practice, Instrumentation, Case Studies

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • August 29, 2024

    Understanding and Addressing Biofilm Communities and Behavior in the Food Plant

    On Demand: In this webinar, speakers with expertise in industry food safety, sanitation, and genomics will provide education on the formation and behavior of biofilms and the challenges they pose to food safety and sanitation operations.
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • Creative Diagnostics

    Creative Diagnostics is a leading manufacturer and supplier of antibodies, small molecule conjugates and critical assay reagents for the analysis of food, feed, environmental and toxicological samples. Its product portfolio covers a wide range of analytes including mycotoxins, drug residues, pesticides, contaminants, food allergens, food pathogens and vitamins.
  • Hygiena

    At Hygiena®, our mission is to create innovative diagnostics for a healthier world, providing critical solutions that uphold safety and quality standards across various industries. Our suite of products includes the SureTrend® data analysis platform, ATP cleaning verification, allergen detection, molecular diagnostics and product quality tools. These solutions are designed to help you see the bigger picture and make timely decisions to protect your customers and your brand.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing