RIKILT, part of Wageningen University & Research centre, and its project partners have devised a method to detect toxins in molluscs without animal testing. The toxins are naturally-occurring but are still harmful to human health. The new method is explained in the thesis by Arjen Gerssen, who receives his PhD at Wageningen University on Friday 15 October 2010.
These naturally-occurring toxins – aka marine biotoxins – are produced by algae and can build up in molluscs such as mussels and oysters. Consumption of contaminated molluscs can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps and neurological ailments.
The official EU method for biotoxin detection – aimed at preventing the sale of contaminated molluscs on the European market – requires testing on mice or rats. As these tests have proven unreliable and are very animal-unfriendly, an EU project was launched in 2005 (BIOTOX) to find a reliable alternative. When the new test is introduced Europe-wide, it will reduce the numbers of laboratory animals by tens of thousands a year.
RIKILT - Institute of Food Safety provides the analytical expertise for this project. The method described by Gerssen separates the toxins and measures them in very low concentrations. The marine biotoxins in question are fat soluble called lipophilic toxins. An international validation study involving 14 laboratories is currently underway. If the outcome is successful, the method will be proposed as the official EU method. This method can than replace the animal tests that will cease in 2013.
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For further information on this press release please mail Jeannette Leenders at jeannette.leenders@wur.nl.
RIKILT Institute for Food Safety is part of Wageningen University & Research Centre.