EU moves to strengthen monitoring of N-Nitrosamines in food

The European Commission has adopted Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/2329 of 21 October 2026 on monitoring the presence of N-nitrosamines in food. Published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the recommendation calls on Member States to work with food business operators to collect more reliable data on these potentially carcinogenic contaminants and identify measures to reduce their presence in food.

The initiative follows a 2023 scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which concluded that dietary exposure to ten carcinogenic N-nitrosamines raises a health concern at higher exposure levels.

The recommendation aims to improve understanding of their occurrence in food, identify the factors contributing to elevated concentrations and support the development of targeted risk-reduction measures. The recommendation identifies several food categories for particular attention, including cured meat products, processed fish, alcoholic beverages, processed vegetables, processed cereals, milk and dairy products, and fermented, pickled and spiced foods.

These priorities reflect EFSA's findings that N-nitrosamines can occur across a range of foods and that additional occurrence data are needed to improve exposure assessments. Monitoring should also help clarify the influence of food processing and the use of nitrate and nitrite additives on nitrosamine formation.

The monitoring programme focuses on ten carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, collectively referred to as TCNAs in the recommendation. Member States and food business operators are encouraged to monitor these ten compounds or, at a minimum, the sum of them. The recommendation also calls for information on other potentially carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, including compounds that may require methods capable of detecting both volatile and non-volatile substances.

When reporting the combined concentration of the ten TCNAs alongside individual results, the sum must be calculated using the lower-bound approach. For processed meat and other processed foods, reporting should also indicate whether nitrate or nitrite additives were used.

To improve consistency and comparability between laboratories, the recommendation advises that sampling follow Commission Regulation (EC) No 333/2007, which establishes sampling and analytical procedures for specified contaminants in food.

Analytical methods should be based on tandem mass spectrometry coupled with either liquid chromatography (LC-MS/MS) or gas chromatography (GC-MS/MS). Thermal energy analysers (TEA) and other analytical techniques may also be used, provided evidence demonstrates that they produce reliable results for the individual N-nitrosamines being measured.

The recommendation specifies the following target limits of quantification:
• Below 1 µg/kg for each of the ten TCNAs, except N-nitrososarcosine (NSAR).
• No higher than 5 µg/kg for other N-nitrosamines.
• As low as possible for NSAR.

These targets are intended to support the reliable detection and quantification of compounds that may occur at low concentrations in food.

Beyond measuring concentrations, the recommendation calls for Member States and food business operators to investigate factors associated with elevated N-nitrosamine levels. The objective is to identify the conditions that contribute to their formation and gather information on measures that could prevent or reduce their presence.

Monitoring data should be submitted to EFSA for compilation into a common database, following its guidance on the Standard Sample Description for Food and Feed and any additional reporting requirements. This coordinated approach is intended to improve the evidence available for assessing dietary exposure and informing future food-safety decisions.

For food manufacturers, laboratories and quality managers, the recommendation provides a clear basis for reviewing analytical coverage, method performance, sampling procedures, additive-use records and controls over food processing. Particular attention should be given to collecting information that can help explain elevated results and identify practical mitigation measures. The resulting data may help European authorities determine whether further risk-management measures are warranted.

Source:

EUR-Lex