Detection of Botanical Impurities in Food and Feed

The term botanical impurities is used to describe the adventitious presence of ingredients from a plant species, which are neither listed in the ingredient list nor on the product label. Botanical impurities can, for example, become incorporated into food and feed products via planting, harvesting or during processing. In this way, soy could, for example, end up in grain or corn meal as a botanical impurity through the production process or transport.

Botanical Impurities Containing GMO Ingredients

In the same way, ingredients of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can also find their way into food and feed products. For example, botanical impurities from GM soy in grain, rapeseed and mixed feeds or GM rapeseed in mustard were found. If the detected GMOs are not approved in the EU, then even trace amounts of these impurities are not allowed. For inputs of approved GMOs, the portion of the botanical impurity in the respective raw material needs to be determined in order to be able to draw a clear conclusion with regards to the labelling requirements.

The following documents present an orientation framework for the application of the legislation and for the control of genetic modifications in food and feed products in Germany. Among other things, the input of GMO through botanical impurities is considered:

• „Guideline for the Control of GMOs in Feed“, prepared by the project group for GMOs in feed of the German working group of the federal states for consumer protection (LAV) for feed under the participation of the federal government and the VDLUFA.
• Statement No. 2016/01 („Guideline for the Control of Genetic Modifications in Foods“), prepared by the ALS working group „Monitoring of Genetically Modified Foods“.

Eurofins offers analyses for GMOs which are not approved in the EU and quantitative detections for GMOs as well as the PCR-based quantification of a botanical impurity of soy. In this way, it is possible to make verifiable claims regarding the marketability and labelling.

Legal Bases and Guidelines

• „Guideline for the Control of GMOs in Feed“ (German)
• Statement No. 2016/01 („Guideline for the Control of Genetic Modifications in Foods“)

Other Interesting Pages

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