Biohit Oyj - Company Announcement

The European Commission’s response to the question of food acetaldehyde by MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen

Biohit Oyj Stock Exchange Release June 11, 2014 at 5 p.m. local time (EEST)


MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen asked the Commission, whether the Commission, in the
light of research which stresses the carcinogenic nature of acetaldehyde, does
intend to set a limit for acetaldehyde in food or alcoholic beverages? If not,
how will the Commission ensure that alcoholic beverages and food products
offered for sale in the EU do not contain levels of acetaldehyde which are
harmful to consumers? 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced in 2009 that
acetaldehyde in alcoholic beverages was carcinogenic in human beings. On this
basis, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) set up by the
Commission again updated its guidelines on cosmetic products. On the basis of a
new unanimous recommendation, a cosmetic end-product is not permitted to
contain more than 5 mg of acetaldehyde per litre. No limit has been laid down
for foods, although commercial food products such as yoghurts have been shown
to contain more than 5 mg of acetaldehyde per litre. Many alcoholic beverages
contain levels of acetaldehyde that exceed by a factor of more than 100 the
limit which applies to cosmetics. 

The Commission answered that The Commission will raise the issue with the
competent authorities of the Member States and, if appropriate, the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will be requested to assess the risk for human
health related to the presence of acetaldehyde in food as process contaminant
or as a natural flavour. Taking into account the outcome of the risk
assessment, the appropriateness of setting maximum levels for acetaldehyde in
food and alcoholic beverages will be considered. 

The Commission's reply also states that In accordance with Article 14 of
Regulation (EC) 178/2002(2), food that is not safe shall not be placed on the
market. Consequently, alcoholic beverages and food products which contain
levels of acetaldehyde harmful to consumers shall not be placed on the market
or, when already placed on the market, shall be withdrawn from the market. 

CEO Semi Korpela, Biohit Oyj: 'Almost all of the upper gastrointestinal tract
cancer risk factors are associated with an increased exposure to acetaldehyde.
The Commission has now given the first clear statement with regard to
concentrations of harmful acetaldehyde, which envisages that in the future
acetaldehyde will be taken into account in product safety. According to
laboratory analyses by Biohit and international research groups, a number of
food products on the market contain abundantly carcinogenic acetaldehyde. These
foods include e.g. yoghurts marketed as health-promoting, among others. ‘ 

The EU regulates the use of carcinogenic substances as part, inter alia, of
legislation on product safety and food products. The regulation on food
products states that food legislation is based on scientific evidence
[Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council]. 


Additional information:
CEO Semi Korpela, Biohit Oyj
tel. +358 9 773 861
investor.relations@biohit.fi
www.biohithealthcare.com


Attachment: European Commission Question and Answer

Available also at
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WQ&reference=E-2014-004538&fo
rmat=XML&language=EN 


Biohit in brief

Biohit Oyj is a globally operating Finnish biotechnology company. Biohit's
mission is “Innovating for Health” - we produce innovative products and
services to promote research and early diagnosis. Biohit is headquartered in
Helsinki, Finland, and has subsidiaries in Italy and the UK. Biohit's Series B
share (BIOBV) is quoted on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki in the Small cap/Healthcare
group. www.biohithealthcare.com 


Biohit Oyj Laboratory Services offer the determination of acetaldehyde
concentration in food and alcohol beverages. Read more at
http://www.biohithealthcare.com/laboratory-services/determination-of-acetaldehyd
e.
www.gastropanel.com, www.acetium.com, www.acetium.com/test reveals your
acetaldehyde exposure.

Attachments:

Quantities of acetaldehyde in food products.pdf