Guidance document for WHO monographers and reviewers evaluating contaminants in food and feed, version 1.0

Overview

This guidance document replaces the previous guidance for the risk assessment of contaminants in food by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) monographers and reviewers, issued by WHO in 2001. It is intended primarily for WHO Temporary Advisers (monographers) who prepare monographs for JECFA and for Members (reviewers) who have been assigned to peer review them. The guidance will also be useful to parties interested in understanding the process followed by JECFA in the evaluation of contaminants that may be present in food or feed – for example, heavy metals, environmental contaminants, impurities arising in food or feed additives, solvents used in food or feed processing, other substances arising from food or feed processes such as heating, substances migrating from food or feed contact materials, and residues arising from the use of animal feed additives or the non-active components of veterinary drug formulations.