April 29 - EFSA has received an urgent request from the European Commission for a scientific opinion in relation to the risks for human health from nicotine in wild mushrooms.
EFSA has been asked to provide this advice because food business operators have found dried wild mushrooms to be contaminated with nicotine.
It is not known what caused the presence of the nicotine, but it could be the result of factors including its use in pesticides.
EFSA aims to answer this request by 7 May 2009 and its response will then be published.