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BfR-MEAL-Study: Meals for the exposure estimation and analysis of food (MEAL)
Project
Project code: BfR-EXPO-08-1393-02
Contract period: 01.01.2015
- 31.12.2021
Budget: 13,000,000 Euro
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment
Total Diet Study (TDS) is the name given to a method recommended by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) to determine the mean concentrations of substances in the average human diet. In doing so, substances which are beneficial to health are examined along with those that are undesired. In combination with information from consumption studies which establish the average intake of foods by consumers, the mean total intake quantities of substances via food can be derived reliably and in detail with the help of TDS. The first total diet study for Germany is entitled the BfR MEAL Study (Mahlzeiten für die Expositionsschätzung und Analytik von Lebensmitteln – Meals for the Exposure Assessment and Analysis of Foods). It examines the health risks of processed and prepared food. The study takes into account the entire food range and analyses each dish in the condition in which it is typically eaten. These samples are subsequently examined in laboratories for various substance groups. In addition to additives and process contaminants, these include environmental contaminants, mycotoxins, nutrients, plant protection products, veterinary drugs and substances which can transfer to foods from packaging. The extent to which the average concentrations of substances differ in individual foods depending on the region, season or production type (e.g. organic or conventional cultivation) is also examined.
Section overview
Subjects
- Nutritional behaviour
