ICAR AIEEA-PG / PGS Food Toxicology, Contaminants & Allergens: practice questions

1 · Principles of toxicology: dose-response, NOAEL, ADI and TDI · easy

NOAEL stands for:

1. No-observed-adverse-effect level
2. Net observed absorption equilibrium level
3. Nominal oral acute exposure limit
4. Non-occupational allowable exposure level

2 · Principles of toxicology: dose-response, NOAEL, ADI and TDI · medium

The default uncertainty factor of 100 used to derive an ADI from an animal NOAEL accounts for:

1. A factor of 50 for cancer and 2 for allergy
2. A factor of 10 between species and 10 between individuals
3. A factor of 10 for children and 10 for pregnant women
4. A factor of 100 for lifetime versus acute exposure

3 · Marine toxins and biogenic amines including histamine · easy

Scombroid poisoning results from:

1. Histamine from histidine in poorly chilled fish
2. Saxitoxin accumulated by filter-feeding shellfish
3. Ciguatoxin from tropical reef dinoflagellates
4. Mercury accumulated in large predatory fish

4 · Mycotoxins: aflatoxins, ochratoxin, patulin, fumonisins and deoxynivalenol · hard

Fumonisins cause toxicity mainly by inhibiting:

1. Diamine oxidase
2. Acetylcholinesterase
3. Ceramide synthase
4. Cytochrome oxidase

5 · Pesticide residues and maximum residue limits · easy

Organophosphate insecticides act by inhibiting:

1. Cytochrome oxidase
2. Ceramide synthase
3. Acetylcholinesterase
4. Lactase

6 · Pesticide residues and maximum residue limits · easy

Which body evaluates pesticide toxicology and residue data internationally and recommends MRLs to Codex?

1. JECFA
2. JMPR
3. IARC
4. OECD

7 · Pesticide residues and maximum residue limits · hard

Why have organochlorine pesticides such as DDT been banned or restricted in agriculture in most countries?

1. They inhibit acetylcholinesterase irreversibly in all insects
2. They are too expensive to manufacture at scale
3. They persist and accumulate in fat along food chains
4. They are rapidly broken down and give no protection to crops

8 · Veterinary drug residues in foods · easy

Clenbuterol residues in liver have caused outbreaks of human poisoning with:

1. Liver cancer
2. Tremor and palpitations
3. Flaccid paralysis
4. Kidney stones

9 · Migration of packaging contaminants · easy

Migration from packaging into food increases with:

1. Lower temperature and shorter contact time
2. Higher fat content, temperature and contact time
3. Thicker food pieces and less surface contact
4. Dry foods with low fat at room temperature

10 · Toxicology of food additives · medium

Which three conditions must normally be met for a food additive to be approved?

1. Use in at least three countries, a patent and a brand name
2. Safety, technological need and no consumer deception
3. Approval by a retailer, a trade association and a laboratory
4. Low cost, availability in bulk and a natural origin