Analysis of Ethylene oxide in agricultural and food products
Ethylene Oxide is also used as a highly effective disinfectant and fumigation product. However, in Europe, Canada and the United States market, foods that are sterilized with Ethylene Oxide is not allowed.
Overview
Ethylene Oxide (EO), also known as oxirane and epoxides, is an organic compound commonly found as a colorless and highly flammable gas. Regarding its application and intended use: EO is mainly used as an intermediate in the production of ethylene glycol (antifreeze), textiles, detergents, polyurethane foams, solvents, medicines, adhesives, raw material for the production of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and other products.
Besides, EO is also used as a highly effective disinfectant and fumigation product, which is allowed to be used in many countries for insect control in some agricultural products, and to disinfect raw materials and food products (especially for spices and herbs such as paprika, pepper and cinnamon, which require regular control for Salmonella).
Some information about metabolites from EO: with its flexible cyclic structure, after contact with food, EO compounds readily form metabolites in the presence of water molecules, chloride ions and bromides such as ethylene glycol, 2-chloroethanol (2-CE) and 2-bromoethanol respectively. This process can occur immediately during fumigation or during the production and processing of raw materials. For 2CE, a result of EO degradation, there is currently insufficient evidence for the carcinogenic properties of 2-CE. However, there are still many experiments showing the potential for genotoxicity. According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment - BfR (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung), on November 20, 2020, a risk assessment of 2-CE equivalent from EO, intended as a precautionary measure. Food, along with that, can also be classified as unsafe based on the results of 2-CE.
For the above reason, in Europe, EO is banned in pesticide products. Food sterilization containing EO is not permitted; EO is classified in group 1B for carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and reproductive toxicity, and class 3 for hazardous toxicity, following the Reg. 1223/2009/EC of the European Council.
Food sterilization containing EO is not permitted in Europe
There have been more than 500 reports across the EU in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed - RASFF of EO contamination in food in 2020. In Belgium, there were warnings about pesticide residues in batches of sesame seeds from India, unauthorized residues of EO in various batches at up to 186 mg/kg. Most of the European countries encountered the above situation, the European Commission has stepped up testing of sesame seeds from India in October 2020, introducing regulations that require it to be officially tested and certified before exports to the EU, while requiring increased checks at border checkpoints for all shipments at the EU border. Other products withdrawn from the EU market include seasoning mixes, multigrain bread, granola, sesame oil, sesame dressings, crackers, ground turmeric, bread, pastry products, ginger powder and chocolate with sesame seeds.
Regulations and guidelines
In Canada, the allowable concentration of EO during fumigation is set at 500 mg/L and residues of 2-CE are limited to 1500 mg/kg. In 2017, the above compound was changed its classification, from the additive group to the pesticide group. Today, the United States and Canada have set Maximum Residue Levels - MRLs for EO and 2-CE in spices, dried herbs, dried vegetables and oilseeds (including sesame) at 7 and 940ppm. Particularly for walnuts are additionally regulated with a tolerance of 50 ppm in the US market.
According to European regulations, the proposed MRLs are common for two components: “EO and 2-CE are referred to as Ethylene Oxide.” The regulatory MRLs for EO (total) for tea, cocoa and spices have been lowered to 0.1 mg/kg; The MRLs for nuts, oil fruits and oilseeds are reduced to 0.05 mg/kg, and for fruits, vegetables, sugar crops, mushrooms and beans, they are reduced to 0.02 mg/kg. MRLs for cereals and products of animal origin are kept at 0.02 mg/kg. For crop products, the new MRLs are set at 0.05 mg/kg.
Regulation of EO concentration in food and agricultural products
Analytical methods and techniques for Ethylene Oxide testing at Eurofins Sac Ky Hai Dang
Eurofins Sac Ky Hai Dang is proud to be a member of Eurofins Scientific Group, a leading scientific group in the world in the fields of food, feed, water, environmental and pharmaceutical testing.
We are using GC-MS/MS, a modern technical analysis, to improves sensitivity and background noise on complex sample matrices such as agricultural products, spices, and foods. Along with simple samples processing procedure which enables us to reduce TAT only 24 hours. Our experts have successfully met the limits of detection requirements of EU, USA, Canada with limit of detection (LOD): 0.003 mg/Kg and limit of quantification (LOQ): 0.010 mg/ Kg, at all 3 targets:
- Ethylene Oxide
- 2-CE, metabolites from Ethylene Oxide
- The sum of Ethylene Oxide and 2-CE metabolites from Ethylene Oxide
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