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International Workshop on Total Diet Studies

Workshop Online Registration   2nd Week Workshop Agenda

Background

National authorities have the responsibility and obligation to ensure that toxic chemicals, such as pesticides, heavy metals, environmental contaminants and natural occurring toxins, are not present in food at levels that may adversely affect the health of consumers. While monitoring for compliance with regulatory standards is essential for consumer protection and facilitation of trade, governments need to assess public health risks arising from the presence of toxic chemicals in food by estimating the actual dietary intake of contaminants for comparison with their corresponding toxicological reference intakes, such as the acceptable daily intake or provision tolerable daily intake.

Thus, estimation of the actual dietary intake of contaminants is indispensable for risk assessment and can also be used in determining whether there may be a relationship between observed adverse effects in humans and exposure to a particular contaminant. Contaminant exposure assessments are equally critical for making sound decisions in the regulation of chemicals and food safety. The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization requires that health and safety requirements related to food must be based on sound scientific risk assessment. Consequently, dietary intake estimates have been given greater emphasis by countries not only in the development of national legislation, but also in the context of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its standards, guidelines and other recommendations. Finally, such estimates provide assurance that regulatory systems that have been established are effective in protecting the public health.

While there are three basic approaches for dietary intake, the total diet study provides, in general, the most accurate estimates of intakes of contaminants for a country as a whole that either of the other methods. In addition, total diet studies explicitly take into account the kitchen preparation of foods to assess the levels of contaminants in foods as consumed. One of the advantages of total diet studies is that they produce information that is readily understandable for use by regulatory agencies, decision-makers and the public. Consequently, there is a growing interest by countries in conducting total diet studies. Such studies, however, are complex, expensive and technically demanding.

The Workshop

In order to promote the undertaking of reliable and comparable total diet studies by countries, the United State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in cooperation with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHP) are convening an International Workshop on Total Diet Studies at the US FDA Total Diet Laboratory located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA from 26 July to 6 August 1999. Divided into two parts, the first week’s workshop will include presentations and discussions concerning the planning, implementation and evaluation of total diet studies, including practical advice from several countries with long experience in total diet studies, include Japan, New Zealand and the USA. A provisional program for the first week’s workshop is attached.

During the second week, a limited number of participants will have an opportunity to learn directly through demonstrations and hands-on experience some of the major technical operations in conducting a total diet study, including sample handling, preparation and analysis. This workshop will be conduct at two levels, basic and advanced levels, depending on the background, experience and needs of the participant. Individual consultations will be available concerning all aspects of conducting total diet studies. Participants completing both the first and second workshops will have gained sufficient information and experience on all aspects of conducting a total diet study.

Persons interested in participating in the workshops should complete that registration form attached or by registering through the FDA homepage at http://www.fda.gov/ora/RegForm/TD_Register.html. . There is no fee for registering, but space is limited, particularly for the second week’s workshop, so early registration is encouraged.

 Program for the Week of July 26 through July 30

The intent of this first week is to present a critical assessment of total diet studies, including important components in the planning, implementation and evaluation of such studies. National experiences in conducting total diet studies will be presented with a view to developing harmonized approaches and to promote consistency and comparability in study results. The conclusion and recommendations resulting from workshop discussions will be used to update and revise the WHO publication Guidelines for the Study of Dietary Intakes of Chemical Contaminants (WHO, 1985).

Monday - July 26

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

U. S. Food and Drug Administration

World Health Organization

Pan American Health Organization

Overview and Objectives of Workshop

General Presentation on Total Diet Studies

Dietary nutrient, pesticide and contaminant (anthropogenic and natural) survey instrument

Review of different total diet approaches

Presentations of Existing Total Diet Studies by Countries

Tuesday – July 27

Presentations of Existing Total Diet Studies by Countries (continued)

Food Consumption Databases in Assessing Dietary Exposure

Approaches and procedures

Survey instruments and study design

Methods for population estimates

Wednesday – July 28

Development of the Total Diet Study Protocol

Selection of food Groups and representatives of food groups

Preparation guides

Shopping lists

Sample collection and handling procedures

Thursday – July 29

Analytical Considerations

Selection of methods

Sample preparation

Quality assurance and control

Data storage and retrieval

Visit to an Analytical Laboratory (only one may be visited)

FDA Kansas City Total Diet Study Laboratory

Mid-West Research Laboratory

US Environmental Protection Agency Laboratory

Friday – July 30

Exposure Assessment

Methodologies for estimating exposure

Uncertainty and variability

Reporting

Panel Discussion Concerning the Future of Total Diet Studies

Summary and Conclusions

second week agenda

 International TDS Workshop Organizing Committee

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This page was last updated on: 07/22/99.