Assessment of Chemical Hazard Risks in Foodstuffs Implemented at Center for Ecological-Noosphere Studies of NAS RA

The Informational – Analytical Center for Risk Assessment of Food Chain of Center for Ecological-Noosphere Studies of NAS RA and Food Safety Inspection Body under the Government of the Republic of Armenia jointly carried out risk assessment activities for chemical hazards (heavy metals, antimicrobial substances and growth promoters) in food. As a result, antibiotics were found in milk produced in the Republic of Armenia, whereas there were residual amounts of hormones detected in fish meat.

Although the health risks due to dietary influence were within the acceptable range, nevertheless, the latter is a serious obstacle to export. Whereas studies of toxic elements in milk and milk products have shown that there are health concerns due to effects of lead and cadmium.

The studies were carried out with funding from the state budget. The young scientists of Informational – Analytical Center for Risk Assessment of Food Chain were involved in the studies led by Head of the Center, Davit Pipoyan - Doctor of Food Sciences (Italy).