Monday, 18 October 2021 @ 10.30am
Members Present
- Martin Cormican (Chair) (MC)
- Andrew Flanagan (AF)
- Anne Molloy (AM)
- Dolores O’Riordan (DOR)
- Geraldine Duffy (GD)
- Ita Kinahan (IK)
- Kevin Cashman (KC)
- Martin Wilkinson (MW)
- Micheál O’Mahony (MOM)
- Montserrat Gutierrez (MG)
- Séamus Fanning (SF)
FSAI Staff Present
- Wayne Anderson (WA)
- Emer O’Reilly (EOR)
- Lisa O’Connor (LOC)
- Mary Flynn (MFL)
- Pat O’Mahony (POM)
- Cormac McElhinney (CMcE)
- Cristina Arroyo-Casabona (CAC)
- Mary O’Connell Motherway (MOCM)
- Oonagh Lyons (OL)
- Judith Giles (JG)
Apologies
- Alan Kelly (AK)
- Ann Marie Part (AMP)
- Dagmar Stengel (DS)
- Mark Fenelon (MF)
1. Disclosures of Interest
There were no disclosures of interest.
2. Matters Arising from the Meeting Minutes of 7 July
There were no matters arising. All actions from the last meeting were completed.
3. Selection of the Standing Subcommittees
WA explained that the Chief Specialists worked with the Chairs of the subcommittees to come up with a list of potential candidates for each subcommittee. Once approved by the Scientific Committee, the members will be formally asked to join.
Biological Safety Subcommittee
LOC outlined the proposed membership of this subcommittee, which includes three members of the Scientific Committee. It was agreed that it would be helpful to have a public health specialist and/or a clinical microbiologist on the subcommittee (or working group), if possible. The proposed list was agreed with these additions.
Chemical Safety Subcommittee
EOR outlined the proposed membership of this subcommittee, which includes three members of the Scientific Committee and some additional expertise for the projects on the work plan. The proposed list was agreed.
PHN Safety Subcommittee
MFL outlined the proposed membership of this subcommittee, which includes two members of the Scientific Committee. It was agreed that it would be helpful to have public health and/or clinical expertise on the subcommittee, if possible. The proposed list was agreed with these additions.
Actions:
- LOC/GD to seek additional expertise for the BS Subcommittee, finalise the list and send to JG.
- EOR/AF to finalise the CS Subcommittee list and send to JG.
- MFL/KC to seek additional expertise for the PHN Subcommittee, finalise the list and send to JG.
- JG to circulate the final lists of membership for all standing subcommittees.
4. Request for Advice: The safety concerns associated with cannabis edibles
Cristina Arroyo-Casabona explained the background to this request for advice (RfA), noting several incidents this year where jelly sweets containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were seized by Gardaí and Customs and where children were hospitalised as a result of consuming the sweets. THC is considered a contaminant in food. This RfA will look at adverse health effects and the level of risk associated with consumption of such products. The RfA was agreed with a clarification on the wording of THC being made. It was suggested an ad hoc subcommittee be set up and AF volunteered to chair this. Membership of this subcommittee will be considered, and a list will be sent to the Scientific Committee for approval.
Actions:
- POM/AF to amend the RfA and JG to circulate.
- If members are interested in joining this subcommittee, please email JG.
- POM/AF to work on a list of potential members for the ad hoc subcommittee.
5. Request for Advice: The effectiveness of analytical methods for food use
Cormac McElhinney explained that many analytical methods exist but not all are accredited or fit for purpose. The cost of using accredited methods can be a problem for food businesses. New methods are often used to detect food fraud and it is important that they are reliable. IK noted that there are requirements already for the accreditation of test methods in the chemical analysis field so this advice should be for new methods and their fitness for purpose. The scope of the RfA is also quite broad. MC noted that there should be a distinction made between standardised methods and accredited methods. The RfA is looking at minimum acceptable criteria for a new method, in the absence of a recognised international standardised method that can be used with confidence for official controls purposes. It was agreed by the committee that the title should be amended, and the scope reviewed. It was suggested an ad hoc subcommittee be set up and IK volunteered to chair this. Membership of this subcommittee will be considered, and a list will be sent to the Scientific Committee for approval.
Actions:
- POM/IK to amend the RfA and JG to circulate to the Committee for approval.
- If members are interested in joining this subcommittee, please email JG.
- POM/IK to work on a list of potential members for the ad hoc subcommittee.
6. Overview of the Risk Ranking of Microbiological Hazards Work
GD gave a presentation on the risk ranking of microbiological hazards work which was started by the previous Scientific Committee. The project has four steps: (1) Select the microbial hazards; (2) Calculate the burden of human illness; (3) Estimate the total burden of illness attributed to food and (4) Rank the hazards. Step 1 has been completed. Work on Step 2 has started for Campylobacter, Salmonella and STEC. Updated data is needed for these three hazards; data must be collated for the other hazards and underestimation factors determined. An approach for Step 3 has been drafted. A decision must be made as to whether the BS Subcommittee itself or a working group will progress this work. GD noted that it is a significant piece of work and that an additional resource is needed to assist with the project. MC asked for a timeline for the work and GD noted that the work is also dependent on the availability of colleagues in HPSC.
Actions:
- LOC/GD to progress the risk ranking project.
- WA/LOC to discuss an additional resource for the project.
7. Request for Advice: Assessment of the Safety of Probiotic Foods on Sale targeted at Vulnerable Groups in Ireland
Mary O’Connell Motherway, SFI Research Fellow in FSAI, presented this RfA. Probiotic foods are those that contain live microbial ingredients at the point of consumption. Probiotic cultures can also be used to make by-products which are used as ingredients without the live culture being present in the food product. Food business operators must ensure the safety of their food products, particularly those that are marketed to vulnerable groups. MC said the issue is about the risk of infection for immunocompromised people and it was agreed the work should focus on live organisms rather than ingredients derived from live organisms. The RfA was agreed with the scope to be updated as discussed. This work will come under the BS Subcommittee and will be prioritised in the coming year.
Actions:
- MOCM/LOC to amend the RfA and JG to circulate to the Committee.
- MOCM/LOC to progress the work under the BS Subcommittee.
8. Request for Advice: Review of Vitamin D requirements for the Population between the Ages of 5 and 65 Years
MFL presented this RfA to the committee. Vitamin D requirements have been reviewed for all other age groups except for the 5-65-year olds. Deficiency is quite common in this age group. Sources include UVB sunlight and the diet. Food supplements are also available on the market and EFSA has set tolerable upper levels for Vitamin D. This RfA will look at the current situation for this age group and provide advice, if required, on how adequate levels can be achieved. Some clarifications to the questions and the scope were made. It was noted that the Department of Health had already agreed with the scope of the RfA. The RfA was accepted by the committee.
Actions:
- MFL/KC to update the RfA and JG to circulate to the Committee.
- MFL/KC to progress the work under the PHN Subcommittee.
9. Progress of Other Requests for Advice
WA noted that a RfA for the Chemical Safety Subcommittee on the exposure of farmed land animals to persistent organic pollutants in the environment will be drafted and submitted to the Scientific Committee for approval.
10. Correspondence
A letter was received by the FSAI from the Irish Doctors for the Environment (EDI) requesting the Department of Health (DoH) and the FSAI to review the current healthy eating guidelines to incorporate sustainability considerations. It was noted that the DoH is responsible for healthy eating policy and FSAI provides scientific advice when requested, the scope of which is defined by the DoH. The committee noted the correspondence, being important and timely, and the FSAI will respond to the letter.
11. AOB
There was no other business discussed.
12. Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Scientific Committee will be scheduled before the end of the year. The Chair thanked everyone for their participation.
Actions:
- JG to confirm the date of the next meeting.