Principles of food toxicology

Essential concepts
Paracelsus

Paracelsus (1493-1541)
Renaissance physician, botanist,
alchemist, astrologer and
occultist
Dose-response relationships

25
Mortality
Frequency
(%) 20

15

10

0
10-3 10-2 10-1 10 101 102 103
Dose (mg/kg)
Dose-response relationships

100
Cumulative
Mortality 80
(%)
60

40

20

0
10-3 10-2 10-1 10 101 102 103
Dose (mg/kg)
Dose-response relationships

100
Adverse effect
(%) 80

60

40

20

0
10-3 10-2 10-1 10 101 102 103
Dose (mg/kg)
Dose-response relationships

100 A
Adverse effect
(%)
80 B

60

40

20

0 -3
10 10-2 10-1 10 101 102 103
Dose (mg/kg)
Dose-response relationships
Hormesis:

Response

Dose
Acceptable daily intake

ADI = NOAEL
10 x 10 (x 10)
Tolerable daily and weekly intakes

TDI = NOAEL
Safety factors

TWI = NOAEL
Safety factors
Acceptable daily intake

100
Adverse effect
(%)
80

60 NOAEL

40
ADI
20

0 -3
10 10-2 10-1 10 101 102 103
Dose (mg/kg)
Acute toxicity
Toxicant LD50 Category
(mg/kg)
Water 90,000 Non-toxic
Sucrose 30,000 Non-toxic
MSG 16,000 Non-toxic
Ethanol 7,000 Non-toxic
Fructose 4,000 Slightly toxic
NaCl 3,000 Slightly toxic
Vanillin 1,600 Slightly toxic
Theobromine 950 Slightly toxic
Caffeine 190 Moderately toxic
Vitamin D3 37 Highly toxic
Nicotine 10 Highly toxic
HCN 4 Highly toxic
Botulinum 0.001 Highly toxic