Incidence of Potentially Toxic Elements and Perfluoroalkyl Substances Present in Canned Anchovies and Their Impact on Food Safety

Fish plays a key role in a healthy and balanced Italian diet, but it is also subject to the bioaccumulation of different contaminants depending on the geographical or anthropogenic context from which it is derived. In recent years, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been focusing its attention on consumer toxicological risk, considering emerging contaminants such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Regarding fish, anchovies are among the five small pelagic main commercial species in the European Union and the top five fresh species consumed by households in Italy. Considering the lack of data on PFASs and PTEs in this species, our aim was to investigate the mentioned contaminants in salted and canned anchovies collected over 10 months from different fishing areas, even those far apart, to verify possible variations in bioaccumulation and to consider the risk for the consumer. According to our results, the assessed risk was very reassuring also for large consumers. The only concern, related to Ni acute toxicity, also dependent on the different consumers' sensitivity, was related to only one sample.

Automated summary

Fish is important in an Italian diet, but can accumulate contaminants such as PFASs and PTEs. This study investigated the presence of these contaminants in salted and canned anchovies collected from different fishing areas in Italy over 10 months. The results showed that the risk for consumers was generally low, except for one sample with concerns about nickel toxicity.