“We provide people in Hungary with safe and high quality foodstuffs”

Hungalimentaria, a conference and exhibition of great traditions, took place again

Prominent representatives of Hungary's food safety sector emphasised the importance of testing laboratories and strategic thinking from the aspects of food safety, the elaboration and adoption of standards, the circular economy and coordinated problem management, for the 14th time this year, at the Hungalimentaria conference and exhibition organised by the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) and Eurofins Analytical Services independent laboratory, with agricultural minister Dr. István Nagy as patron of the event.

The conference was opened by Dr. Beáta Olga Felkai, deputy state secretary in charge of food chain supervision, of the Ministry of Agriculture, who said that in a continuously changing world the work of laboratories is reliable foundation when it comes to the development of standards, for programmes aimed at providing information for, and at educating, increasingly conscious consumers, or for the operation of the High Quality Food (KMÉ) trademark system.

Dr. Beáta Felkai pointed out that we are facing numerous challenges in food safety, as for instance crop protection products, packaging materials, marking, the fight against food adulteration, animal protection, laboratory developments, logistics, exports and imports, or current issues relating to energy, all necessitate strategic thinking and action. The aim is to provide people living in Hungary with safe, high quality and preferably Hungarian foodstuffs, the deputy state secretary emphasised.

“While back in 2012, when Nébih was launched we started with the motto From the Farm to the Fork, how with our Without leftovers campaign we wish to draw attention to agricultural soil again in the spirit of circular economy, in adaptation to the changing processes – said Dr. Márton Oravecz, president of the National Food Chain Safety Office. In his welcoming address he emphasised the role of laboratory tests and their contribution to the efforts of authorities and businesses as well regarding compliance with limit values and decision making on a variety of subjects.

“Hungalimentaria’s objective is to bring scientific and practical aspects of analytical chemistry, microbiology and molecular biology as well as topical matters of the legal regulations regarding foodstuffs closer to laboratories performing tests of foodstuffs and feeds as well as decision makers and the participants of the food industry – said Dr. László Zanathy, Managing Director of Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft., independent laboratory, organiser of the event in cooperation with Nébih.

A number of particularly important areas, including the testing of allergens in foodstuffs, the newly introduced meat substitute food products or antibiotic-resistant bacteria, pose a constant challenge and tasks for independent laboratories such as the international market leader Eurofins group.

During the plenary presentations of the conference and exhibition Dr. József Baranyi (of the Debrecen University) drew attention to the importance of Big Data, emphasising that smart analysis of an immense – and exponentially growing – amount of data has become and indispensable requirement. In his analysis Tamás Éder (Bonafarm) noted among other things that export has been pulling the growth of the food industry in recent years and that the share of domestic products in the consumer basket has increased, however, the participatns of the sector are about to face numerous challenges in the near future of which the dramatic price increase is only one. Melinda Kovács (of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences) discussed the integrated and unifying approach referred to as “One Health”, the aim of which is uniform management of the health of the ecosystems of humans, animals and health sciences, through cooperation among multiple disciplines because our problems have also become global, unfortunately.

Again, true to the established traditions, nearly 60 presentations were delivered in eight different sections during the two days of the 2023 Hungalimentaria, which was jointly organised by the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) and Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. independent laboratory, legal successor of Wessling Hungary Kft. a company of a more than 30 year professional history. The programme comprised the widest possible variety of subjects, including the adulteration of dairy products, changes in legislation on drinking water and foodstuffs, compounds leaching from packaging materials, GMOs, the testing of mycotoxins, alternative protein sources, prohibited substances in weight loss products and in male potency enhancers, toxic substances of plant origin in foodstuffs, the importance of official controlling and inspection, the role of sample taking, the definition of probiotics, carbon footprint analysis along the food supply chain, digital identification for lifelong tracking of packaging, methods of testing of disinfectants used in the food chain. Visitors could also watch presentations on public catering and nutrition-health.

Bacterial antibiotic resistance may become leading cause of deaths

The huge bacterial population living inside more complex organisms (humans, livestock), constitutes units that are both independent and partly connected to each other, primarily through the bacterial populations living in our environment –  explained to the scientific portal Laboratorium.hu László Branduse, Managing Director of VetControl, member of the Eurofins group. Active substances of antibiotics released into the environment are extremely dangerous: according to forecasts of European authorities diseases caused by multi-resistant bacteria may become the leading cause of death in Hungary by 2050.

What exactly is multi-resistance?

Survival and reproduction are the main objectives of all living organisms, including bacteria. The more antibiotics mankind uses, the more will be released into the environment in the form of active substance, eradicating susceptible bacteria and providing an advantage for resistant ones in the fight for survival. Consequently, pathogens against which treatment is difficult or impossible, will proliferate. (One such example is the methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant to all antibiotics of the penicillin and cephalosporin groups).

Resistance is a consequence of natural genetic modification which is passed on to the next generations. Even more importantly, it is often linked to the extranuclear genome (so-called plasmids) which may even be passed on between bacteria of different or completely unrelated species, ensuring rapid and efficient spreading of the resistance.

It should be clear – said László Branduse, Managing Director of VetControl, member of the Eurofins group, an international market leader laboratory network – that the huge bacterial population living in more complex organisms (humans, livestock) constitutes partly independent, delimited units (i.e. humans, pigs, dogs, chicken have their respective species-specific sets of bacteria), which are, however, partly interconnected with each other, primarily through the bacterial populations living in our environment.

Accordingly, the environment is a repository, and a venue of exchange and spreading, of genes that are responsible for resistance. In other words, resistant bacteria evolve not only in the individual – person, animal or plant – which is actually treated with antibiotics, but also in the environment. This is why active substances of antibiotics, released into the environment, are dangerous. The problem comes to a head when the multi-resistant conditional pathogen proliferates in a human (or animal) body whose immune system has weakened for any reason, and causes a disease.

The immune system may be weakened by a variety of factors: other contagious diseases (e.g. flu, COVID), tumours, transplants or protracted application of medicines (e.g. steroids). In such cases the disease caused by a multi-resistant bacterium cannot be cured by applying antibiotics because of the resistance and the patient finally dies.

As a result, any disease caused by multi-resistant bacteria may become the leading cause of death across the world by 2050. The health of humans, animals and the environment, is one and the same thing after all – as is correctly declared by the “One Health” initiative whose mission is to halve the use of antibiotics by 2030, says László Branduse.

What should antibiotics be administered against?

Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses; their use for a viral infection may only be justified where the doctor can be certain that there is a bacterial coinfection. Antibiotics should only be applied in treating bacterial contagious diseases. Preventive treatment is very rarely justified, e.g. before major operations.

Hardly have a hundred years passed since the discovery of penicillin – it goes to show how quickly medical science is changing. In parallel with veterinary medicine, the increasingly dominant trend is that antibiotics are not administered at once.

It is key, therefore, that antibiotics should only be taken if it is absolutely necessary!

As an animal health diagnostics laboratory VetControl also provides the laboratory background for promoting conscious and targeted use of antibiotics (i.e. not very broad-spectrum products), in line with the relevant regulation.

One is not allowed to shoot with a shotgun in a shooting gallery either – as Mr. Branduse aptly noted to illustrate the importance of targeted application of antibiotics.

Leading cause of deaths by 2050?

Like in the case of humans, it does matter when and for what diseases antibiotics may be administered to animals. A joint report of three EU agencies on changes in the consumption of antibiotics and the development of antibiotic-resistance in Europe, may give rise to hope. According to the report the use of antibiotics has decreased to varying degrees in most EU Member States; in some cases the use of antibiotics on livestock is even below its human use. Unfortunately, the decrease is less pronounced in Hungary, being the fifth among the Member States in terms of the rates of antibiotics use in livestock production.

The decrease in the use of antibiotics shows the effectiveness of actions taken at a national level. The use of the polymyxins group of antibiotics which includes colistine, for instance, dropped by nearly fifty percent on an average in the EU between 2016 and 2018. This is a positive development because colistine is used in hospitals as well, for treating certain patients with multi-resistant bacterial infections, according to a communication released last summer by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).  It should be noted however, that no such marked decrease has been observed in Hungary: Diseases caused by multi-resistant bacteria may become the leading cause of death in Hungary by 2050

Antibiotics not only in the body but also in our environment

Experience shows – in both humans and animals – that antibiotics are often administered in larger than the necessary dosages. Indeed, in many cases there may not even be a need for antibiotics. Excessive quantities however, definitely cause harm because it ends up in wastewater, or in the case of livestock, in the manure, which is then incorporated in the soil, or in other words, the environment. This is why the EU regulation prohibits the preventive use of antibiotics – said the Managing Director of VetControl, adding that Hungarian farmers are also making increasing efforts in this regard.

Is the antibiotic treatment of animals a hazard for humans?

Strict regulations stipulate that only antibiotic-free animal products (meat, dairy, eggs) may be marketed for human consumption. This is the aim of the withdrawal period regulation specifying for every antibiotic product the period of time that must pass after its last administering before the product is suitable for human consumption. Compliance is strictly controlled by testing foodstuffs for antibiotic residues, therefore the actual and considerable hazard to human health lies – contrary to popular belief – not in the consumption of animal products containing antibiotics but, on the one hand, the not sufficiently sound and careful use of antibiotics in human medicine and, on the other hand, the above mentioned environmental antibiotic pollution and the resulting spreading of resistance.

Awareness raising among people (as consumers of animal products and as keepers of pets) regarding the need for prudent and careful use of antibiotics: no antibiotics should be given to people or pets without first having a microbiological test carried out. This is a new direction but this is the only way towards long term health – concluded László Branduse.

An interesting presentation will be delivered soon at the Hungalimentaria food safety conference and exhibition as well (the event takes place at Aquaworld Resort Hotel on 18 and 19 April).

Apple Chestnut Rose, winner of the competition called Hungary’s Sugar-Free Cake competition

The competition of the Hungary’s Sugar-free Cake programme, organised by One Drop of Attention Foundation for hobby confectioners was won this year by Gabriella Raffer with her creation called “Apple Chestnut Rose”. The panel picked the best of ten cakes in the final round. As has been reported by leading media the programme is supported through its laboratory tests by Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. as well.

The competition “Hungary’s Sugar-Free Cake” was won by the cake called Apple Chestnut Rose – reported One Drop of Attention Foundation to MTI. The competition of the Hungary’s Sugar-free Cake programme for hobby confectioners was won this year by Gabriella Raffer with her creation called “Apple Chestnut Rose”, which contains no white flour or added sugar and, thanks to its favourable carbohydrate and energy parameters can even be integrated in the diet of diabetic patients – as has been reported by a number of leading news portals.

The reports note that the programme called Hungary’s Sugar-free Cake was launched by the One Drop of Attention Foundation specifically in order to provide an alternative for sweets-lovers. The Foundations professional partners include the Hungarian Confectioners Guild, the Hungarian Dietetic Association as well as Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft.

The latter independent laboratory  has been testing and analysing the award winning cakes submitted by contestants in the programme for more than a decade now. The way they are doing it is described in several articles that have appeared on the scientific dissemination portal Laboratorium.hu;

https://laboratorium.hu/tortaalaborban.html
https://laboratorium.hu/ismet-laborban-vizsgaltak-magyarorszag-cukormentes-tortajat.html
https://laboratorium.hu/izekre-szedtek-nagyi-kedvencet-a-laboratoriumban.html
https://laboratorium.hu/cukormentestortapottyospannilaboratorium.html
https://laboratorium.hu/Szentivanejcukormentes
https://laboratorium.hu/cukormentestortavizsgalata.html
https://laboratorium.hu/kicsigesztenyelabor.html

Those wishing to participate in the Hungary’s Sugar-free Cake for professional confectioners have until 6 April to register.

Microplastics and “eternal” materials in our waters

The achievements of Eurofins Analytical Services on the World Water Day!

Microplastics are to be found everywhere: in seawater, in inland surface waters, in wastewater and even in the air. It is through methodology developments and a series of research projects that independent laboratory Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. contributes to making their professional measurement and the international efforts aimed at tackling the problem as efficient and as effective as possible. The so-called PFAS compounds last practically forever: they have awesome characteristics for industry but when they were developed it was not clear that they would pose a major hazard to the environment, our waters, and even human health. Eurofins Analytical Services is actively engaged in this field as well. Our brief summary is has been prepared to draw attention on the occasion of the World Water Day to these two severe environmental hazards.

One of the most important tasks of the independent laboratory Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft., operating as the legal successor of WESSLING Hungary Kft. is to promote environmental protection (in addition to testing food products and medicines). With our more than 30 years of experience based on of producing millions of test results we have already made major efforts towards the protection of waters, for example, through our tests of surface and underground waters, soil water, our accredited wastewater tests, our participation in recultivation projects as well as methodology development projects such as those aimed at detecting pesticides or drug residues in waters. On the occasion of this year’s World Water Day we wish to draw attention to two important areas which posing a specific type of very severe environmental challenge to humankind, though in two different ways.

Microplastics in the oceans, in rivers and in wastewaters

One of the most recent and highly exciting research project called Deep Sea, which took place in the Mediterranean sea revealed that microplastics sized below 1 mm are present in a higher density in deeper layers (6-10 m) than in the surface layer. The surprising findings of the research carried out near Malta have just recently been published by the managers of the project. Dr. Gábor Bordós – project manager of the test laboratory Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. – who was part of the international team said that the massive presence of microplastics in deeper layers of the sea may be a result of a change in the density of the particles, that is, their contamination.

During its research projects Eurofins Analytical Services has already gathered lots of experience regarding microplastics in Hungary as well: one of its research projects was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which it was found that microplastics are present in our raw wastewaters, in samples of treated waste water and in surface water samples in concentrations of 800-4400 particles/m³, 12-85 particles/m³, and  9-28 particles/m³, respectively These findings show that although wastewater treatment plants remove the bulk of the particles, yet wastewater may be one of the sources of microplastics in surface waters.

One of the most important findings of a series of tests we conducted in the context of our earlier social responsibility project called Tiny Plastic Puzzle was that Of Hungary’s rivers we analysed so far the largest amount of microplastics was found in the River Danube: 50 particles per m³.

We also participate in a considerable number of other research projects as well, including, for instance testing the air and waters for microplastics RISK MP project), in the course of which we are developing increasingly accurate methods and gather important data – we also publish our results in internationally recognised journals and in presentations at conferences.

Eternal compounds in waters and the environment

The issue of per- and polyfluorinated substances is a highly topical environmental challenge. This “super substance” used everywhere from clothing to hand creams to packaging materials to fire extinguishing equipment can be potentially carcinogenic.

“The so-called PFAS compounds are present in the environment, including our waters (EU regulations make testing for them a mandatory from 2026) and pose a growing challenge regarding food safety as well” – said Zoltán Palotai, head of the Environmental Division of Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft.

“All too often the chemical industry invents something great (these compounds are, for instance, both water and oil resistant) and then in many cases it is only a few decades later that they may also be harmful to the environment or human health. The most well-known examples include the insecticide DDT and the herbicide glyphosate: DDT has already been banned (three decades after its introduction), while glyphosate is still the subject of heated professional debates, yet both of these are here with us.

This is the very reason why the measuring of perfluorinated compounds has become crucially important. Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. has developed highly practical analytical techniques by combining liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, with which it is now performing such tests routinely on samples from waters, foodstuffs and packaging materials alike.

Microplastics in the largest shallow lake of Central Europe

Physiological effects of microplastics have been investogated by a Hungarian research group based on the analysis results of Eurofins.

Microplastics (MPs) in the environment are more and more becoming a pollutant of concern as these particles might cause acut and chronic effects in algea and vertebrates as well. This is becoming also obvious, that anthropogenic pollutants – such as pharmaceutocal residues, polyciyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides – are attached to the surface of MPs enhancing toxic effect and bioaccumulation in the food chain.

Rsearchers of the Institute of Agquaculture and Environmental Safety (MATE University), the ELKH Balaton Limnological Research Institute and the Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Ltd. identified 7 polymer types in the size range of 50-100 µm, most common were polyethylene and polypropylene particles. In average, 5.5 particles of MPs were found in 1000 L water sample and this value is more or less similar to previous Europe-wide results.

The research group proved, that both virgin MPs (polyethylene, polystyrene) and particles exposed paralelly with hormones are coausing adverse effects in Daphnia magna, a common ecotoxicological test organism.

Results have been just published in the renowned journal Science of the Total Environment

TruGraf Liver the first and only gene expression diagnostic that helps optimise immunosuppression treatment for liver transplant patients

Michael Borgenicht, Product Marketing Manager, Eurofins Transplant Genomics, michaelborgenicht@eurofins-tgi.com

For patients awaiting an organ transplant, once they have the surgical procedure required to obtain a new organ, their transplant journey is just beginning. Immunosuppressant drugs are prescribed to these patients to prevent their body’s immune system from rejecting the new organ and preserve its function.

However, immunosuppressant drugs come with significant complications. While the drugs prevent the immune system from attacking the new organ, they also block the immune system from being able to fight threats like viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Clinicians walk a delicate line balancing the benefits of immunosuppression against the negative side effects they come with. Until now, optimising immunosuppressant therapy for liver transplant recipients has largely been a “trial and error” process. Clinicians rely primarily on their experience, in addition to laboratory and clinical indicators of rejection and graft injury, resulting from the effects of immune activation.

TruGraf® Liver, from Eurofins Transplant Genomics, is a blood-based mRNA gene expression test that provides guidance for the optimisation of immunosuppression therapy in liver transplant recipients. TruGraf Liver represents the first diagnostic tool that leverages gene expression data – powered by Eurofins Transplant Genomics’ proprietary technology and machine learning – to give the earliest and most accurate view of immune quiescence.

Gene expression is a basic, biological process that is utilised by all known life to generate required macromolecular instruments. It is a small part of the flow of genetic information within the body. By examining the mRNA generated through gene expression, insight can be gained into the status of a patient’s immune system.

TruGraf Liver is the first and only blood-based test that offers biomarker guidance to aid physicians in optimising immunosuppression in transplant recipients, to allow for a superior balance between graft rejection and adverse events. TruGraf Liver can help clinicians confirm immune quiescence during immunosuppression optimisation in patients with stable graft function, minimising the risk of overt graft injury due to rejection.

For more information, visit: www.transplantgenomics.com/

TEM is the ideal complement to in-vitro assays and molecular techniques in determining the microbiological safety of biological products

Lara Strittmatter, PhD, Electron Microscopy Laboratory Manager, Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing, LaraStrittmatter@eurofinsUS.com

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is a powerful tool in the biopharmaceutical industry, allowing for highresolution imaging of microscopic structures at the nanometre scale. This technique utilises a beam of electrons that passes through a thin section of a specimen, producing detailed images of the internal structure of the sample. With the ability to magnify samples up to one million times while maintaining every detail, TEM is capable of directly imaging viruses as small as 20-400 nanometres.

One of the key advantages of TEM is its unbiased nature, making it an ideal complement to in-vitro assays and molecular techniques in determining the microbiological safety of biological products. For example, Eurofins can assist clients in characterising cell lines by examining the structural integrity of cells and observing the expression of endogenous retroviral particles present in CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cell lines. Additionally, TEM can be used to enumerate endogenous and viral-like particles in unprocessed bulk from bioreactors, uncovering the presence of any extraneous agents that could have contaminated the cells.

In the expanding field of cell and gene therapy, the production of viral vectors is a crucial aspect of the manufacturing process. The Eurofins Electron Microscopy laboratory can aid in evaluating the size, shape, and purity of viral particles, as well as assessing their capsid content (full vs. empty).

TEM provides scientists with the ability to visualise the morphology of pathogens and contaminants, identifying potential risks associated with the production of biological therapeutics, ultimately leading to the production of safe and effective products for patients.

For more information, visit: www.eurofins.com/biopharma-services/product-testing/ services-by-modality/gene-therapy-testing-services/

Ensuring consumer safety and regulatory compliance for OTC drugs, cosmetic products, and dietary supplements

Laurianne Kandalaft, Eurofins Assurance, lauriannekandalaft@eurofins.com

Ensuring consumer safety and regulatory compliance is a constant and key requirement for retailers and manufacturers of healthcare products all over the world. Safety and regulatory risks are mitigated thanks to regular audits of sites, which sometimes leads to a high burden for suppliers and manufacturers, who can have several dozen audits to handle each year.

Trying to address this complexity, several retailers, manufacturers, key industry associations, and regulatory bodies have united in order to form the Global Retailer and Manufacturing Alliance (GRMA) in 2014.

GRMA’s aim is to enhance consistency and harmonisation across quality management systems of the dietary supplement, cosmetic, and over-the-counter (OTC) drug industries. For this, the alliance brings together the requirements of top retailers, manufacturers, and industry associations under one unique standard. The result is a GRMA certification programme, using a single, publicly accredited GMP standard, and covering three health and wellness product categories, which are: OTC drugs, cosmetics, and dietary food supplements.

For suppliers and manufacturers, the advantage of being certified by GRMA is that all members of the alliance will have access to the audit report. This allows a significant reduction of the number of audits to handle by one site and ultimately reduces associated costs.

Eurofins Assurance in the US is proud to become an authorised GRMA Certification Body (CB) and to be able to provide audits to suppliers of members of the alliance and ultimately improve GMP compliance. Our audit team has already begun the process to achieve full approval and accreditation to the GRMA’s OTC Drugs, Dietary Supplements, and Cosmetics certification programme.

Eurofins Assurance experts and auditors have demonstrated excellent understanding of the standard’s criteria, completed required trainings, and showed proficiency in conducting GRMA audits. These audits can be done on sites anywhere in the world thanks to our extensive global network of auditors, which includes experts of the healthcare, food, and cosmetic industries.

For more information, visit: www.eurofins.com/GRMA

Eurofins Discovery helps researchers understand human toxicities related to PFAS

Sheryl P. Denker PhD, Senior Strategic Content Manager, sheryldenker@eurofinsus.com; Justin H. Lipner, PhD, Translational Biology Study Director; Antal Berenyi, Data Architect; Jennifer I. Drake PhD; Translational Biology Study Director

Environmental chemicals – in particular those that are abundant and stable – may pose greater health risks than initially expected as they accumulate in the water, air, and our bodies over a lifetime. Fortunately, Eurofins Discovery’s human phenotypic drug discovery screening and profiling platform can be used by toxicologists to predict potential chemical-induced toxicities.

Researchers and policy makers worldwide seek to understand human toxicities related to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a chemically stable, diverse set of 4,700+ molecules used in various consumer products, from carpets and raincoats to nonstick cookware and food wrappers¹. While initially deemed safe, some PFAS are now known to cause harm to human development and immune function when accumulated in the body as a result of their stability, degradation characteristics, and organ or tissue sensitivities. Unfortunately, minimal to no information is available on the biological mechanisms of toxicity for the majority of PFAS. As this class of chemicals is still used in consumer products, there is a need for testing of this large family of molecules in predictive models of human toxicity.

The BioMAP® Platform from Eurofins Discovery Translational Biology Center of Excellence has a proven track record in drug discovery2,3. Work over the past five years with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demonstrates that the platform is equally powerful for the prediction of human adverse outcomes in toxicological sciences.

“Our team values the importance of toxicity testing for the US EPA,” says Diane Werth, Site Leader for Eurofins Discovery in St. Charles, MO. “Delivering studies that improve health through a safer environment, in addition to safer medicines, is a responsibility we embrace.”

Using BioMAP Toxicity Signature Analysis, the EPA was able to distinguish differential human toxicities of various PFAS molecules. In comparison with standard immunosuppressive drugs – such as cyclosporine A and methotrexate – immunosuppression, skin irritation, and organ toxicity were noted for a subset of tested PFAS. Results from the EPA study are published in Alternatives to Animal Experimentation⁴.

The ability to predict adverse human health effects for toxicity testing or drug discovery; to screen large numbers of molecules for their impact on human disease biology; and to reduce, refine, and replace the use of animals in agreement with 3Rs strategies make the BioMAP Platform an ideal new approach methodology for next-generation risk assessment.

Visit: www.eurofinsdiscovery.com/resources/ case-studieswhite-papers to download the Case Study on Human Toxicity of PFAS.

https://www.eurofins.com/scientific-impact/scientific-innovation/ what-do-pizza-boxes-raincoats-and-frying-pans-have-in-common/

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189247

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz9906

https://www.altex.org/index.php/altex/article/view/2446

Celebrating 35 years of Testing for Life – 35 YEARS OF EUROFINS

Aimee Beale, Eurofins Scientific Communication Manager, AimeeBeale@eurofins.ie

To mark its 35th anniversary, Eurofins has developed a book, The Story of Eurofins – From Humble Beginnings to a Global Leader. The book charts the Eurofins network of laboratories’ development and growth, innovations, scientific breakthroughs, and the global crises our laboratories have responded to, while showcasing interesting anecdotes and stories about the achievements and activities of our Eurofins employees and organisations over the past three decades and beyond. Click here to browse the book.

Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing offers comprehensive testing services to qualify filters for sterile drug manufacturing

Michele Cavalleri, Business Unit Manager, Eurofins BPT Biocide Testing Milano, MicheleCavalleri@eurofins.com

Sterile filtration of drug products is one of the common methods of (cold) sterilisation considered in biopharmaceutical industries worldwide for heat sensitive formulations. It is a critical step in ensuring product sterility and drug safety for patients. Filter qualification and filtration process validations are essential in order to meet safety and regulatory requirements for sterile drugs.

Due to the rise in market demand for biological products, the importance of new filtration systems is increasing, from large apparatus to small single-use filters. Further, the current difficulties in the global supply chain are triggering new opportunities for membranes and filter cartridges from local manufacturers. As a consequence, the need for process-specific up-to-date procedures to properly qualify new filters is becoming more and more critical.

The guidelines currently available, such as PDA TR 26 “Sterilizing Filtration of Liquids”, establish high-level requirements and do not specify test protocols, which are left to the manufacturers’ and testing laboratories’ knowledge and experience. Worst-case conditions with respect to product characteristics and process parameters need to be assessed for each filter validation test. The experimental design should be evaluated and justified on a case-by-case basis, depending on the type of filter membrane, product features, and process conditions. Filter validation studies include testing for:

• Product Wet Integrity
• Chemical Compatibility
• Filter Adsorption
• Bacterial Viability
• Bacterial Challenge or Retention
• Extractables and Leachables

Such tests require highly trained specialists, complex protocols, and different equipment, from LC-MS systems to complex lab-scale filtration apparatus.

Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing, with its multidisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art laboratories, as well as close collaboration with filter manufacturers, provides the necessary expertise and robust testing solutions required by the evolution of new products and filtration processes, together with the high expectations of regulatory agencies.

For more information, visit: www.eurofins.com/bp

© Published by Eurofins Scientific. All rights reserved. The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy but the publishers cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for errors or omissions that may be made.

For further information & contacts in other countries please refer to our website www.pharma.eurofins.com

Hungalimentaria 2023

Eurofins Analytical Services is organising Hungary's most important food safety conference and exhibition in cooperation with the Hungarian National Food Chain Safety Office (NFCSO).

The National Food Chain Safety Office and Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft., an independent laboratory, are organising the 14th scientific conference and professional exhibition HUNGALIMENTARIA 2023 following a tradition of Hungalimentaria events dating back to several decades.
 
For more than 27 years now the objective of Hungalimentaria has been to present and demonstrate scientific as well as practical aspects of analytical chemistry, microbiology and molecular biology to professionals and technicians of laboratories performing tests and analyses on foodstuffs and livestock feed, decision makers using test and analytical results as well as the representatives of the food industry and any other interested participants.

The importance of Hungalimentaria is underpinned by the fact that the Patron of this year's conference and exhibition is Minister of Agriculture Dr. István Nagy.

We kindly invite all interested people to participate in the Hungalimentaria 2023 conference – as students, participants of the poster section, exhibitors and/or sponsors.

Click here to download the registration sheet

If you wish to participate in the conference as an exhibitor or a student, please return the registration sheet before the deadlines indicated in it to hungalimentaria@laboratorium.hu, or click here to fill out the on-line form:

ON-LINE REGISTRATION SHEET

If you have questions regarding participation please do not hesitate to contact us at the following contact details or at Hungalimentaria's central address:
hungalimentaria@laboratorium.hu

Clothing tag in the sea

Even more microplastics found in the deeper layer than assumed

The research project Deep Sea reveals: microplastics smaller than 1 mm have greater abundance on deeper layers (6-10 m) than in the surface samples. These surprising results of a research near Malta's shoreline have just been published by the project leaders. As part of the international team Dr. Gábor Bordós, project manager of the Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. laboratory told, that the accumulation of microplastics in the deeper layers might occur due to the change in their density, that shows possible contamination of the particles.

Microplastics (>1 mm) from the Mediterranean Sea, Malta shoreline (Image: Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft.)

The goal of the project „Deep SEE” founded by The International Ocean Institute is to investigate microplastics at the shoreline of Malta. Samples were taken at 4 different locations around the island in different depth of the see: parallel to the surface sampling a Manta-net was also trawled in deeper layer in the same time to maintain similar environmental and technical conditions. (Zibel NGO played a very important role in the sampling process as technical support and contributor).

The resulting samples were then analysed by Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. a state-of-the-art environmental laboratory and show interesting data. Based on the results of the accredited laboratory significant differences are shown between the surface and the deeper layer samples regarding some polymers, especially the acrylic.

“Considering the currently available data and general assumptions this is a novelty that we found more microplastics (<1 mm) in the deeper layers (6-10 m) than in the surface samples” – said Ede Kossári‑Tarnik, researcher of the Malta University and grantee of The International Ocean Institute. This correlation did not occur in the case of microplastics over 1 mm.

Dr. Gábor Bordós, project manager of the Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. told that this distribution can be related to environmental conditions (e.g. salinity) and the properties of the polymers, such as density, size, shape and mass.

“As most of the plastics have smaller density than that of the sea water, we can assume, that the cause of their sinking – further to waves and currents – is the change in their relative density. This can be caused e.g. by biofouling which means microorganisms and other contaminants stick to the surface of the microplastics”.

Another research project with participation of the Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. investigates this issue too and focusing on the distribution of microplastics with potential human health risks in indoor, workplace and ambient air samples, including their microbiological effects and the capacity to adsorb harmful chemicals in the water environment.

These studies are important as there are knowledge gaps currently. Dr. Gábor Bordós and his colleagues showed during The Tiny Plastic Puzzle, a previous research of Eurofins in Hungary, that microplastics are found in freshwaters (50 particles/m3 were identified in the Danube River at Budapest), but it is crucial to reveal the overall contamination and the potential risks.

What polymer types has been identified? Where do they come from?

The identified microplastics have different shapes, density and mass: the majority of the particles were between 50-350 µm in size and the most abundant polymer types were acrylic (42,9%), polyethylene (17,3%), polypropylene (15,7%) and polystyrene (10,5%). Acrylic polymers are widely used in the clothing industry (fibres), in “plexi” sheet (PMMA: polymethyl metacrylate) and in paints, coatings. Other dominant polymer types in the sample can originate from several sources as these are common from the packaging industry to the building and construction sector.

One would ask, how diverse are the microplastics brought to surface by the researcher? Dr. Gábor Bordós shows a small, whitish, star-shaped fragment: this might be originating from a plastic cloth tagging pin.

Microplastic particle originating suspectedly form a cloth tagging pin. (Image: Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft.)

This particle highlights, that even if consumers are environmentally conscious and collect their waste separately, tiny plastic pieces inevitably enter the environment. It is important to review on the manufacturers and legislation side, which plastic items in our daily life call for urgent replacement by more sustainable alternatives.

This research project has been made possible through a joint collaboration between the University of Malta, Oceanography Malta Research Group (Prof Alan Deidun, Dr Adam Gauci, Ede Kossari Tarnik ), Zibel, Environmental NGO (Andrew Schembri, Arkadiusz Srebnik) and Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Ltd. (Dr Gábor Bordós, Bence Prikler). The same research has been part-supported by the Elisabeth Mann Borgese Bursary of the International Ocean Institute which has been awarded to Ede Kossari Tarnik for 2022-23. Nora Kovats and Michael Bonello (DUTCH) also participated in the project as creative contributors.

New name, same quality

WESSLING Hungary Kft. continues as Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft.

We are pleased to inform you that, starting from January 1, 2023, WESSLING Hungary Kft. continues its operations under the name Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft., offering you the same high quality services as before, with three major business units in the fields of environmental protection, food safety and healthcare.

Our company, which has been present on the Hungarian market for more than 30 years, will further strengthen and expand its service portfolio in Hungary by joining the internationally leading Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA) group of companies, operating from January 1, 2023, under the name Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft.

Accordingly, from now on, you will find our services and news under this name both on the building of our knowledge center in Újpest and on our official documents and websites.

A new menu system was built on the website of the Hungarian group of companies of Eurofins, where all our services are available in a well-organized form: https://www.eurofins.hu/analytical-services-hungary-en/

Our central e-mail address is info@laboratorium.hu. We would also like to inform you that the e-mail addresses of our colleagues have officially and uniformly changed to: lastname.firstname@laboratorium.hu.

Of course, we are still available at our previous e-mail addresses, and our company registration number, tax number, bank account number and address also remained the same.

The wide range and high quality of our services will also continue to be at the same high level as it has been for 30 years. Should you have any questions, please get in touch with your usual contact person and find out more about us on our weboldalunkon!

We carried on with our charitable activities as a member of the Eurofins Group

Sponsoring a study competition and a university scientific students' associations conference, participation in a charity cycling tour organised by McDonald’s around Lake Balaton, a Christmas shoebox campaign, sponsoring an environmental photo competition. Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. – a company performing food safety, environmental and drug tests and analyses celebrating its 30th birthday this year but this time as a member of the Eurofins – continued its charity activities in 2022 as well: the employees of our independent laboratory proved how helpful they are on multiple occasions this year too.

Eurofins Knowledge Centre has participated for years now in the grandiose sports event called BringaMánia Tour de Balaton organised by McDonald’s. We felt obliged this time again to sponsor Ronald McDonald Gyermeksegély Alapítvány, a child charity foundation providing provides homely circumstances free of charge at the Ronald McDonald Houses all over the world for families whose children undergo lengthy hospital treatments far from home.

In the cycling tour at the end of May this year, starting off from Újhely Beach of Siófok, our company was represented again by our colleague (the now retired) business development director Dr. Tamás Szigeti; this was the 6th time he participated in the race as a honorary member of the McDonald’s team headed by Dr. Tibor Cselényi representing Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. The team covered the 206 km distance "Balaton XL" run in as little as 10 hours.

Sponsoring a chemistry competition

The chemistry competition of the Petrik Lajos Bilingual Vocational School of Chemistry of the 14th district of Budapest was organised for upper grade students in November again this year, to which teams of a few members were invited by the organisers. As well as tangible prizes the winning teams received diplomas for their success in the three-round competition which might earn them extra points in the procedure of admission to higher education institutions.

"We found it important to sponsor the study competition because future technicians coming from "the Petrik" are extremely highly qualified; they proved their enthusiasm even during practical training in the summer and we would like to maintain this kind of efficient cooperation with the school in the future too. This year the winners received purchase vouchers and gift cards from our company", said HR manager Balázs Mátrai.

Our unique CSR system

Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. – a specialist of environmental, health and food safety analyses – has been present in the domestic market for over 30 years, now as a member of the laboratory network of the international market leader Eurofins group. With its analyses Eurofins contributes to a safer and healthier world but it also take the cause of social responsibility very seriously, going way beyond the scope of their services.

The Eurofins Foundation has been contributing large amounts to professional and charity organisations and educational institutions to promote the protection of health and environment for years by now, while Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. has developed an unmatched CSR system in Hungary in scientific dissemination and education (having launched, for example, the Laborkaland (Lab Adventure) national chemistry competition, the www.laboratorium.hu scientific news portal, the Tiny Plastic Puzzle microplastic research project, our own scientific periodical and strategic cooperation arrangements with universities).

Our CSR activity has earned us the CSR Hungary award on several occasion and our corporate social responsibility played a major role in our winning the Superbrands Business award – which was granted to our laboratory by the independent jury panel for the fifth time this year.

Sponsoring the Scientific Students’ Associations Conference at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Scientific Students’ Associations Conference organised by the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) is one of the most important events that has been sponsored by our company with great enthusiasm. In the competition the students present their research papers prepared during a period of 6-12 month research of a given field of research or theme in the given sections to a jury panel and the most successful entries can also be submitted by those ranked in the required positions, in the biannual National Conference of Scientific Students’ Associations.  Our company sponsored this year the student participating in the conference at the BME Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology and winning a special award there, with a purchase voucher. The prize was handed over at a solemn ceremony on 17 November at the BME Ch building by the head of Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft's Health Protection Division Dr. Andrea Egresy.

‘Shoebox Campaign’ at Biharkeresztes

Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. remembered to give gifts to students in Biharkeresztes this year again. Our colleagues packaged and filled the shoeboxes for disadvantaged small children during the month of November which will be handed over to the schoolchildren of the small town in the county of Hajdú-Bihar. The shoebox campaigns (or as it is referred to in its country of origin: Operation Christmas Child) reached Hungary ten years ago, but back then children in need received packages with the involvement of the Baptist Charity Service for Christmas from West Europe. The first campaign was launched by the charity organisation in 2004, with the motto: “Christmas for ten thousand children”.

We have been conducting the shoebox campaign, which has become a great tradition, year after year ever since then, under the coordination of the head of the IT department, András Szabó, who delivers surprise presents for needy students of primary schools of Hungarian rural towns and villages each year.

Birdo – Bird photographer of the year competition

The Birdo – Bird photographer of the year competition – was closed by a solemn award ceremony and the opening of the exhibition of the winning photos. The 344 contestants entered nearly 3000 photos into the two-round competition. The initiative, promoting the cause of nature conservation and environmental protection alike, is fully in line with the CSR strategy of Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft. – member of the Eurofins Group – therefore there was no question about our laboratory's sponsorship of the competition, that is, the publishing of the photo album.

Birdo – Bird Photographer of the Year award.

The world of birds in the most beautiful photos!

Our laboratory also sponsored the bird photographer of the year competition

The Birdo – Bird photographer of the year competition was closed by a solemn award ceremony and the opening of the exhibition of the winning photos. The 344 contestants entered nearly 3000 photos into the two-round competition. The initiative, promoting the cause of nature conservation and environmental protection alike, is fully in line with the CSR strategy of WESSLING Hungary Kft. – now member of the Eurofins Group – therefore there was no question about our sponsorship of the competition, that is, the publishing of the photo album.

Birdo – Bird photographer of the year is the only photo competition with birds focusing on birds. Nature conservation was specifically emphasised in the competition because only photos taken ethically – without interfering with the lives of birds in reproduction, resting or their natural movement – were accepted.

Photos were accepted between 1 June 2022 and 31 July 2022 in 10 different categories, without having to pay entry fees. The photos were evaluated by a panel of seven, chaired by NIKON ambassador Tamás Imre nature photographer. Based on their first-round decision a total of 462 photos and 4 document photo series were qualified for round two, in which the entries were scored again by the panel to reach the final result. Public voting also took place in September on the competition's Facebook page.

Wessling Hungary Kft. – a specialist of environmental, health and food safety analyses – celebrated the 30th anniversary this year. 2022 is particularly important year for us and not only because of this truly memorable jubilee but also because this year we became a proud member of the Eurofins international market leader laboratory network. The combination of the two companies' expertise and experience will now provide even more opportunities for making the world safer and healthier by our analyses and on the basis of our shared values.

Both Eurofins and WESSLING Hungary Kft. take the cause of social responsibility very seriously, going way beyond the scope of their services.

The Eurofins Foundation has been contributing large amounts to professional and charity organisations and educational institutions to promote the protection of health and environment for years by now, while WESSLING Hungary Kft. has developed an unmatched CSR system in Hungary in scientific dissemination and education (having launched, for example, the Laborkaland (Lab Adventure) national chemistry competition, the www.laboratorium.hu scientific news portal, the Tiny Plastic Puzzle microplastic research project, our own scientific periodical and strategic cooperation arrangements with universities).

The Birdo – Bird photographer of the year contest is fully in line with the philosophy of our company, as the organisers of the initiative draw attention to the cause of environmental protection and nature conservation, in addition to presenting the beauty and riches of nature. The competition's professional supporter is the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society the nature conservation association Száz Völgy Természetvédelmi Egyesület and the nature photo magazine Természetfotó Magazin.

It was a pleasure for Wessling Hungary Kft. member of the international market leader Eurofins to contribute to the creation of this wonderful album and we wish that our readers enjoy the wonderful pictures!

To view the pictures visit the website of Birdo – Bird photographer of the year.

We have Received the Superbrands Business Award!

WESSLING Hungary Kft. a member of the Eurofins Group, among the best Hungarian brands.

WESSLING Hungary Kft., a company performing environmental, food safety and pharmaceutical tests as well as consultancy services (member of the Eurofins Group since 2022) is the only laboratory ranked among Hungary's strongest brands (Lidl, Diego, Jysk, Mester, Stiebel Eltron – to name but a few). A new glass sculpture was added to our collection in the solemn award ceremony and Managing Director Dr. László Zanathy foresees a definitely bright future for the company.

At the end of November more than 60 brands were provided, for the eighteenth time, with the Superbrands and Business Superbrands awards at Budapest Music Centre where our company was represented by Managing Director Dr. László Zanathy and Marketing Manager Gábor Szunyogh.

"The past 30 years' trajectory is phenomenal to me. It has been my privilege to have been able to witness how a big company evolves as a live organisation" – says László Zanathy in relation to the award.

"Wessling Knowledge Centre's key values include commitment to quality, speed, transparency, customer orientation, reliability, expertise as well as authentic and accurate communication Our values, as a member of the international market leader Eurofins Group, have remained unchanged, indeed: we are in for an even more stable future and further professional achievements!" - as the Managing Director claims in the exclusive Superbrands publication brought out on the gala evening.

The section introducing our company explains that the history of WESSLING Knowledge Centre equals continuous innovation: with its services offered and provided during the past 30 years the company has entered the segment of food safety and drug tests and analyses, the range of which it has been expanding steadily month after month. WESSLING's communication strategy is based on proactivity and the dissemination of scientific information. This is the purpose of the company's extension website Laboratorium.hu, its own organised conference (Hungalimentaria), media appearances (more than 2000 of or articles appeared in the mainstream and professional media in the past ten years) along with our creative campaigns and those conducted in the context of corporate social responsibility: in the course of Tiny Plastic Puzzle we analysed the microplastic levels in the rivers Danube and its tributaries, while our chemistry contest called Laborkaland promoted chemistry among secondary school students through online contests and experiments, by means of up-to-date pedagogy. During our campaign "Ésszel a kosárba" ("watch out what you buy") we shared our important messages and experiences with the public. During our Gyomaendrőd project we performed tests and analyses in cooperation with the municipality in the context of corporate social responsibility while in our communication campaign this year promoting circular economy we drew attention to how waste can be turned into valuable input material for energy generation.

Our philosophy and CSR activities are in line with what programme director Géza László said when he emphasised that the brands awarded in the Superbrands programme are also characterised by a high degree of social sensitivity. "Fostering creativity and encouraging talent, ensuring equal opportunities and acceptable working environment are important values to us" – the programme director said.

As a special musical treat during the solemn gala evening Kriszta Kovács and Sándor Sasvári, leading artists of Hungary's best musical theatre, Madách Theatre, performed parts of world famous musical super productions. The musical parts were accompanied by the company of Baltazár Theatre engaging artists with disabilities, as a special dance ensemble.

The Superbrands Award means very much to us and we hope that it will increase confidence in us among the general public, professional circles and our business partners and suppliers alike.

About the Superbrands Programme

The Superbrands Award helps raise awareness in brand value: its communication draws attention among consumers and business partners to positive values such as the financial stability of the company behind the brand, its nationwide recognition and popularity and outstanding brand building practice.

The Superbrands Programme – now operating in more than 90 countries worldwide – was launched in 1995 by the British Brand Council, with a two-fold objective: to highlight outstanding brands and show examples for others to follow. The programme has come to be known across the globe by now, with the Superbrands title indicating something special, something outstanding in nearly 90 countries worldwide.

The Superbrands Award has been representing the essence of all positive factors attached to brands in Hungary: it showcases up their market recognition, popularity and their financial stability. Five year after its launch the Hungarian Superbrands Programme extended the qualification to business brands as well by introducing the Business Superbrands Award to reward the most successful brands in the business sector (B2B).

As it is widely known, the best of the best consumer and business brands are rewarded by the international Superbrands programme, a trademark symbolising high quality. The final decisions on the awardees are made, after a screening process of several phases, by a committee of 40 independent marketing and business management experts each year.

The Big Lab story: we turned 30, and we now belong to the Eurofins Group!

See our most recent short video!

We turned thirty! Although we are not exposed too much, we are present everywhere in life, be it food safety, pharmaceutical tests or environmental protection. Since its foundation in 1992, WESSLING Hungary Kft. has worked to become one of the market leader laboratory service providers in Hungary within a few years, and joined the largest global network of laboratories, the Eurofins Group this year. Our newest spot is about this move.