The aim of this priority action was to examine food supplements based on plants, plant parts and extracts for contamination with pyrrolizidine alkaloids or with human pathogenic bacteria (STEC, Salmonella, etc.).

51 samples from all over Austria were examined.

• No sample had to be rejected because of pathogens or pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
• Ten samples were rejected because of inadmissible nutritional and health claims.

In the past, food supplements have been mentioned by EFSA as a possible source of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that could be detrimental to health. A relevant occurrence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is only to be expected in products with or from vegetable powders. Since these raw materials are often contaminated with undesirable germs in the course of production, the microbiological status of the products was also investigated.