EFSA reveals proliferation of THC in hemp products amid calls for “reasoned approach” to limits

21 Jan 2020 --- As legislation around the world concerning various forms of cannabis relaxes, a recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report has revealed the proliferation of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the main psychoactive compound in cannabis – in food, beverages and supplements containing hemp. The organization has previously concluded that the compound can have adverse health effects. However, the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) has hit back, arguing that THC is an inherent element of hemp and calling for a “harmonized and reasoned” approach when it comes to THC limits in food in the EU.

The new report estimates that the highest Δ9-THC exposures are found in hemp oil, tea (infusion) and hemp seeds. Some dietary supplements, including vitamins, protein and amino acids, and plant extract formulas also contain significant amounts of THC.

Additionally, high consumers of pasta (raw), fine bakery wares, beer and beer-like products, bread and rolls (both from hemp flour and not), and chocolate products can expect to surpass EFSA’s acute reference dose for THC, as established in 2015. 

However, EIHA highlights that hemp food and drinks will always have some traces of residues. “It is simply not possible to have a THC-free hemp product. Through natural contamination, seeds have THC from being in contact with flowers. However, in the last 20 years, the industry has evolved significantly on this point. Today, we are able to provide consumers with ‘clean’ and high-quality products, with nearly no traces of THC,” Lorenza Romanese, Managing Director of EIHA, tells NutritionInsight. 

Hemp oil and seeds could lead to some of the highest THC exposures. Currently, varieties of hemp that are cultivated and used for feed can contain no more than 0.2 percent THC (w/w), but THC is not currently regulated under any EU regulation for food. While EFSA had concluded in 2015 that the presence of THC in milk and other foods of animal origin had adverse effects on the human central nervous system, such as mood alteration and sedation, the organization had not yet analyzed the proliferation of THC in food, drinks and supplements.

Safety concerns
Romanese further argues that hemp fits perfectly into the “superfood” category, highlighting its highly digestible protein and its ratio of omega 3 to 6. “Compared to other culinary oils, hemp seed oil is low in saturated fat and rich in polyunsaturated fat. There are also no dangers associated with THC. Nonetheless, the sector does need clear rules both inside and outside the products.”

Furthermore, a study last week found that exposure to THC during pregnancy can have a significant impact on placental and fetal development. The researchers demonstrated in a rat model that regular exposure to a low-dose of THC that mimics daily use of cannabis during pregnancy led to a reduction in birth weight of 8 percent and decreased brain and liver growth by more than 20 percent. 

Additionally, a separate study examining one-time exposure to cannabinoids (CBs) during early pregnancy discovered that components of marijuana, including THC and cannabidiol (CBD), can cause brain and facial birth defects if used during the first trimester. 

Nonetheless, CBD has been proliferating in NPD following the 2018 Farm Bill’s removal of hemp from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. However, the FDA recently warned 15 companies for illegally selling products containing CBD. Based on the lack of scientific information supporting the safety of CBD in food, the FDA has also indicated that it cannot conclude that CBD is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food. 

Following in Canada’s footsteps?
Romanese states that the current guidelines for calculating THC residues in food are unreasonably strict and outdated, proposing that a new and precise calculation method is adopted. Indeed, EFSA does acknowledge documented uncertainty in the report due to analytical methods, extraction efficiency, as well as in relation to conversions related to food processing. Overall, the exposure estimates in the report are expected to overestimate acute exposure to THC in the EU. Canada has just legalized the sale of edible cannabis products.

EFSA’s report now recommends further research, including studies on the stability of THC and the carry-over of THC in the food chain. It also encourages member states to collect more occurrence data of THC in food and to gather consumption data on real consumers of hemp and hemp‐containing products. 

Additionally, EIHA plans to launch and fund a toxicology study on THC. It has already informed EFSA and is willing to work closely with them and to share the scientific outcomes of the study. 

Looking to the future, EIHA believes that decision-makers need the knowledge and expertise of the industry. Additionally, Romanese states that Europe should use Canada and Switzerland as an example. “Both these two countries have clear and binding rules for THC residues in hemp-derived food, and neither can be considered ‘rough’ countries. Meanwhile, the German THC reference values for hemp-containing foods are the strictest ones internationally. Europe has to protect the single market as well for hemp-derived products,” she argues. 

Indeed, Canada has just legalized the sale of edible cannabis products. Accordingly, the country has also introduced new regulations for edible, inhalable and topical products, designed to reduce the risk of accidental consumption or overconsumption. 

Packaging must be plain and child-resistant, must carry a standardized cannabis symbol and health warning, and be labeled with the relevant THC and CBD content. Package sizes are limited to 10 mg THC per package for edible products and 10 mg THC per capsule or dispensed amount for cannabis extract. In addition, there is a limit of 1000 mg THC per package for products other than edibles, such as a bottle of capsules.

By Katherine Durrell