Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) and their N-oxides (PANO) are a group of toxic secondary plant metabolites occurring predominantly as contaminants in (herbal) teas, honeys and food supplements, as well as in spices and culinary herbs. Depending on the botanical origin of the contaminating plant, the pattern of PA/PANO can strongly vary within a sample. The current study aimed to broaden the existing data on the occurrence of PA/PANO in spices and culinary herbs. For this, 305 authentic samples covering 15 different matrices mainly harvested in 2016 or 2017 and originating from 36 countries were investigated for the presence of 44 PA/PANO. Fifty-eight percent of the samples contained at least one PA/PANO. The average sum content over all samples was 323 µg/kg (median of 0.9 µg/kg, 95% percentile of 665 µg/kg). The highest amount of 24.6 mg/kg was detected in an oregano sample. Additionally, conspicuous analyte patterns were discovered in samples from similar cultivation regions, indicating related botanical sources of PA/PANO contaminations. Particularly, oregano and cumin from Turkey often contained high amounts of PA/PANO. The results were used to assess the acute and chronic health risks related to PA/PANO intake via spices and culinary herbs, indicating a potential health risk in particular for adults and children with high consumption or when considering worst-case contamination scenarios of a sum content of 5500 µg/kg.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) and PA N-oxides (PANO) are secondary plant metabolites exhibiting genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. Apart from the roots and leaves, PA/PANO are particularly present in pollen and nectar. Therefore, the spread of Jacobaea vulgaris in certain regions of northern Germany has an impact on the safety of honey produced in that region. In this study, raw honey samples (n = 437) were collected from usually three individual beehives per site (n = 73) in the district of Ostholstein and analyzed for 25 PA/PANO. The results reveal mean levels of 8.4, 1.5, and 72.6 µg/kg and maximum levels of 111, 59.4, and 3313 µg/kg, depending on the season (summer 2015 and spring/summer 2016, respectively). As far as individual data are concerned, sites near areas with J. vulgaris growth did not necessarily result in high PA/PANO values. Furthermore, intra-site investigations revealed remarkable differences in PA/PANO levels of raw honey collected by different bee colonies at the same site. Consumption of these regionally produced honeys entails an increased exposure to PA/PANO, especially in children and high consumers. Margin of exposure values of <10,000 and an exceedance of the health-based guidance value highlight that regionally produced and marketed honey must be considered with care for a proper risk assessment and risk management.