Glycidol fatty acid esters (GEs) are relatively newly identified process contaminants in a number of refined edible oils. A validated analytical method for edible oils, exposure analysis using hemoglobin adduct in human, and mitigation measures during manufacturing process were developed to contribute to the risk management of GE.

The role of Codex Alimentarius Commission gradually becomes more important in global food trade. Codex Alimentarius Commission is the international risk management body established by FAO and WHO in 1963, and currently 187 countries and 1 organization (EU) participate as members. Commission develops harmonized international food standards and related texts to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in food trade. The present paper explains the terms of reference and recently works of Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) and risk assessment performed by FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which are utilized by CCCF for the elaboration of risk management recommendations. This paper also presents some overviews of the current food safety issues (e.g. mycotoxins, acrylamide, inorganic arsenic, lead) which are discussed at CCCF.

Risk analysis carried out to ensure safety of foods seems to be firmly established in the Japanese regulatory system. There are currently two types of risk analysis. The threshold approach seems to be based on the old dichotomy between safe and dangerous. On the other hand, non-threshold approach has not been utilized until recently, because substances which found to be genotoxic have been strictly banned for use in the food industry. However, we have learned that there are many genotoxic carcinogens as pollutants or by-products in our diet. Then, the way of risk analysis carried out in the risk assessment documents of four substances is reviewed, and three new tools are taken up as potentially useful alternatives. Finally, the necessary procedure to ensure evidence based policymaking is proposed.

From the point of view of realizing recycle based sustainable society, reversible joining is required. The reversible joining is the joining method that can easily perform a joining and detachment. Because a joining and detachment were completely opposite phenomenon, the technical development was difficult. Biological attachment attracts attention to solve this problem. In this review paper, biological attachment system and development of biomimetic adhesion are introduced.