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PREFACE B Y D É F I N I T I O N , A R E C O M P O U N D S that are foreign, but not n e c e s s a r i l y harmful, to a g i v e n living system. F o r this s y m p o s i u m , w e have f o c u s e d o n b i o l o g i c a l s y s t e m s that affect h u m a n s o r animals. T h i s topic represents a m i l d but timely departure f r o m the traditional areas presented i n s y m p o s i a b y the A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F o o d D i v i s i o n . A l t h o u g h considerable d i s c u s s i o n o f various types o f xenobiotic c o m p o u n d s h a s b e e n i n c l u d e d in m a n y s y m p o s i a a n d general sessions, the current effort is the first to e m p h a s i z e a variety o f potentially toxic materials. In the s y m p o s i u m o n w h i c h this b o o k is based, the authors c o v e r a wide variety o f c o m p o u n d s f o u n d in the f o o d chain. T h e s e c o m p o u n d s m a y have plant or m i c r o b i o l o g i c a l o r i g i n o r m a y result f r o m changes c a u s e d b y f o o d storage, processing, o r final preparation. C u r r e n t l y there is high public interest i n the nutritional value a n d safety o f foods. In a d d i t i o n to p r o v i d i n g a source o f essential nutrients, h u m a n f o o d c o n s u m p t i o n c a n represent a delightful social experience a n d contribute t o sensory satisfaction. O r g a n o l e p t i c research a n d c u l i n a r y arts h a v e taught us to p r o d u c e f o o d s with extraordinary c o n v e n i e n c e a n d p a l a t a b i l i t y . M i c r o b i o l o g i c a l r e s e a r c h h a s h e l p e d u s prevent age-old public health p r o b l e m s b y ensuring sanitary handling o f f o o d s throughout p r o d u c t i o n a n d processing. N u t r i t i o n i s t s have established requirements and e n s u r e d the nutrient quality o f foods, a n d w e n o w have the opportunity to c o n s u m e a nutritionally adequate diet. T h e o v e r a l l i m p r o v e m e n t in f o o d handling i n the last 100 years n o w challenges us with n e w considerations o f what constitutes a safe diet. T h e influence o f xenobiotics o n these c o n s i d e r a t i o n s is not c l e a r l y u n d e r s t o o d . F o o d toxicology, particularly as related t o long-term effects o f low-level e x p o s u r e to toxic materials, is n o w e m e r g i n g as a b r a n c h o f f o o d science. M o s t o f the f o o d s w e c o n s u m e are beneficial; s o m e foods, however, m a y h a v e risks. R a t i o n a l assessment o f these risks a n d benefits is a n e x t r e m e l y difficult area o f research and, t o o frequently, a n e m o t i o n a l issue. T h i s v o l u m e presents a n objective, state-of-the-art d i s c u s s i o n o f xen o b i o t i c c o m p o u n d s that c a n exist i n the diet a n d includes s o m e o f the u^CENOBIOTICS,
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a p p r o a c h e s available to m i n i m i z e the o c c u r r e n c e o f these c o m p o u n d s . W e a r e v e r y grateful f o r assistance a n d w o u l d like to thank the A g ricultural D i v i s i o n o f the C i b a - G e i g y C o r p o r a t i o n a n d Pfizer, Inc. f o r their generous support w h i c h e n a b l e d several speakers to attend.
JOHN W. FINLEY
University of Iowa Hospitals Department of Pediatrics Iowa City, Iowa DANIEL E. SCHWASS
U.S. Department of Agriculture Berkeley, California June 16, 1983
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