Brussels, 11/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a scientific opinion published on Monday 11 May, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) points to the health risks of eating wild mushrooms containing up to 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine. EFSA proposed that the maximum acceptable concentration of nicotine in fresh wild mushrooms should be 0.036 mg/kg. The opinion comes in response to an urgent request made on 27 April by the European Commission, following reports that dried wild mushrooms, mainly originating in China, were contaminated by nicotine. It is not known what caused the presence of nicotine in these mushrooms. It could be pesticide use or accidental contamination during the drying process. The maximum concentration is therefore being suggested as a temporary measure given the uncertainties of assessment and the lack of data available on contamination levels and consumption of wild mushrooms in Europe, EFSA states. (A.N./transl.jl)