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)
- Lois O’Connor (LOC)
- Mark Fenelon (MF)
- Montserrat Gutierrez (MG)
- Séamus Fanning (SF)
FSAI Staff Present
- Wayne Anderson (WA)
- Mary Flynn (MFl)
- Micheál O’Mahony (MOM)
- Rob Phillips (RP)
- Judith Giles (JG)
Apologies
- Alan Kelly (AK)
- Ann Marie Part (AMP)
- Dagmar Stengel (DS)
- Pat O’Mahony (POM)
- Karl McDonald (KMcD)
- Lisa O’Connor (LiOC)
1. Disclosures of Interest
The Chair welcomed the members to the meeting. There were no disclosures of interest.
2. Matters Arising from the Meeting Minutes of 9 December 2024
The actions were completed except for one. MC invited the FSCC Chair and FHRS Subgroup Chair to attend a meeting, which they agreed to, however it was decided that this is no longer necessary as the work has moved on.
The Total Diet Study (TDS) and Biomarkers Report was published on 30 April.
Actions:
- MC to inform the FSCC Chair and FHRS Subgroup Chair of the decision regarding their attendance at a Scientific Committee meeting this year.
3. Update from PHN Subcommittee
Draft interim report: Scientific Recommendations for FBDG for Adolescents (Results for boys only)
KC and MFl gave a presentation outlining the work completed to date:
- The report is sizeable, but the methodology used is the same for the boys and the girls.
- A definition of adolescence has been agreed based on the WHO definition.
- Data was available from the NCFS II and NTFS II surveys for macro- and micronutrients and these were benchmarked against international values.
- A definition of sustainability has been agreed based on FAO, WHO and other definitions. Guiding Principles have been drafted, based on the WHO/FAO Guiding Principles (population-based) and made relevant locally. Nutrient targets in the context of a healthy diet will take precedence over other sustainability targets.
- For macro- and micronutrient goals, EFSA reference values have been used. In some cases, only adequate intakes are available, so the IOM average requirement values from the US were used.
- The methodology for the diet modelling was based on that used for the FBDG for 1-5 year olds (which was published). The aim was to reach the energy targets and then adjustments were made for some nutrients.
- Results showed that dietary fibre and iron intakes are high for some boys with high activity levels and adjustments had to be made to their diets. Overall, a more plant-based diet can be nutritionally adequate, and guidance can be provided on fibre and iron for some age groups and sizes.
Discussion
- Is there consistency re: age ranges referred to in the report? Variation may relate to different sources of information using different ranges.
- The nutrient tables were discussed. In no case did predicted values go over the tolerable upper level for the nutrients.
- It was noted that there is a move towards a definition of sustainability that is broader than environmental impact.
- There was discussion re: changing current dietary advice to address fibre and the potential for advice to influence life-long preferences.
- Discussion on the use of protein supplements to build muscle.
- The risk of haemochromatosis if iron intake is high was discussed. The Chair will speak to medical colleagues to get their perspective on this.
The Chair thanked KC & MFl. If there are any further comments on the report, they can be added within the next two weeks.
Actions:
- Members to add comments to the interim draft report by 6 July.
- MC to speak to medical colleagues about haemochromatosis.
- JG to circulate the presentation.
4. Update from Biological Safety Subcommittee
Risk Ranking of Microbiological Hazards
GD noted that the expert elicitation meeting was held in March to estimate the total burden of illness attributed to food. The outcomes were used to adjust the DALYs and allow the risk ranking of hazards. The subcommittee met on 27 May to discuss the results and the draft report. The report will be progressed electronically over the summer, and another meeting will be scheduled at the end of Aug/early Sept. The final draft will be brought to the Scientific Committee meeting in September. GD acknowledged the work of Chloe Glennon, FSAI, and the external experts this year.
Hepatitis E in Pigs and Pigmeat WG
A new staff member has joined the Veterinary Public Health & Agriculture Team in FSAI to assist with the technical secretariat for the WG, and progress has been made on the RfA. Work will be done over the summer, and a first draft will be submitted to the Biological Safety Subcommittee for their next meeting and to the Scientific Committee in Q4.
Actions:
- MC to send details of a Hepatitis E webinar to the members.
5. Update from Food Hygiene Rating Systems Subcommittee
DOR noted that the subcommittee has had a series of presentations from various international speakers including the FSA UK, industry in the UK, the New York City Department of Health, UNIFESP in Brazil, Duke-NUS in Singapore and an organisational psychologist from The Netherlands. The meetings were held jointly with the FSCC Subgroup and presentations were recorded. Briefings on papers were provided, and questions were submitted in advance. The next stage is report writing and an outline has been drafted for the group. The Chair asked if it would be possible to view the recordings and this was agreed.
Actions:
- JG to circulate the recordings from the speakers having confirmed there are no data protection issues.
6. Update from Chemical Safety Subcommittee
Dioxins & PCBs WG
AF noted that there have been a few meetings held with FSAI colleagues to discuss the draft dioxins report. The draft report has been reviewed and restructured. The main body of the report has been condensed, and text drafted to answer the four questions in the RfA. This will be circulated for members to review further. The next steps will be to convene a meeting of the Chemical Safety Subcommittee to discuss the draft report. The aim is to bring the draft report to the Scientific Committee meeting in October and to finalise in Q4.
AF thanked the Chemical Safety Team and Veterinary Public Health & Agriculture Team for their input.
Actions:
- AF to forward the document for circulation.
7. Work Plan Update & Work Timelines Update
The work plan was updated to account for the publication of the TDS and Biomarkers report and the updates were agreed. The timelines for completion of work were reviewed and remain unchanged.
Actions:
- JG to update the work plan on the website.
8. AOB
There was no other business discussed.
9. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on 22 September. Dates for the other meetings this year will be confirmed shortly. The Chair thanked everyone for their participation.
Actions:
- JG to confirm the meetings dates for 2025.