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Food Survey Information Sheet 15/06
Retail samples of various types of offals consumed in the UK were analysed for dioxins and PCBs. Levels were generally low, although higher concentrations of dioxins were found in liver samples from certain species. Some of these levels exceeded the regulatory limit for dioxins in liver. The data may prompt a re-examination of the way the existing limit is expressed. Dietary exposure, estimated on a whole weight basis, indicates no significant risk to health. Existing Agency advice on the consumption of liver remains unchanged.
Back to topDioxins and PCBs were analysed in 173 samples of offal and processed foods containing offal, including liver, kidney, heart, tripe, pâté, black pudding, tongue, haggis, sweetbread, chitterling and throatbread.
All analytical results for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are expressed in terms of World Health Organization Toxic Equivalents (WHO TEQs) per kilogram, gram or nanogram.
Dioxins and PCBs were found at low concentrations in most of the samples analysed. Total TEQ concentrations were in the range 0.2 – 159 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat, or <0.01 – 4.1 ng WHO-TEQ/kg on a whole weight basis.
Dioxins concentrations in nine out of 21 samples of lamb liver exceeded the fat-based EU Maximum Limit for dioxins in liver of 6.0 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat. A further two samples of pig liver, two of lamb liver and one each of calf and ox liver exceeded the EU action level of 4.0 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat.
Levels in all ten samples of venison liver tested were above 6 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat, although the maximum limit does not apply to liver from venison.
Consumer exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs through the consumption of offal do not raise concerns for public health, even in the case of the higher levels found in some liver samples.
Based on the results of this survey, the Agency's advice on the consumption of liver is unchanged. This advice, which was primarily drawn up in response to concerns about the level of vitamin A in liver, is that regular liver consumers should eat it no more than once per week, and pregnant women should avoid liver.
Back to topBackground information on dioxins and PCBs can be found in the Food Standards Agency's Food Survey Information Sheet No 38/03, which also contains data for dioxins and PCBs in average diets and estimates of intakes. This is the first detailed survey for dioxins and PCBs in offals to be carried out in the UK by the Food Standards Agency.
Small numbers of liver and kidney samples were tested during the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak, liver was tested as part of a research project investigating dioxin uptake into animals and four liver samples were included in the 2003 EU monitoring programme.
Previous work carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and other workers has demonstrated that liver accumulates dioxins to a greater extent than would be expected from its fat content.
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