La gestione della sicurezza alimentare nella filiera del polline

The high commercial expectations of pollen presuppose the effective management of food safety. The work describes the commercial value of the product, the legal framework, the food safety objectives, the legal standards and the prevention measures applied to the pollen production chain. Pollen is a primary product of apiculture, whose whole natural origin is exposed to contamination by agents from both harvesting and post‑harvesting environments, as well as the spoilage of their chemical components. Spoilage and contaminations of foreign materials, including any unwanted GMO pollen, are likely to affect food suitability. The microbiological risk is mainly represented by microorganisms resistant to the extreme values of aw. Potential hazards of abiotic nature are represented by foreign bodies, radionuclides, mycotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins, veterinary drugs, phytotoxins, agents responsible for allergies and food intolerances. Prevention measures focus on the effective management of production phases, with particular reference to honeybees positioning, cleanliness from foreign materials, freezing treatment to kill eggs, larvae and adults of insects, proper dehydration and appropriate storage.