This report represents the conclusions of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committeeconvened to evaluate the safety of various food contaminants with theaim to advise on risk management options for the purpose of public healthprotection. The first part of the report contains a general discussion of the principlesgoverning the toxicological evaluation of contaminants and assessments ofdietary exposure. A summary follows of the Committee s evaluations oftechnical toxicological and dietary exposure data for certain food contaminants:acrylamide arsenic deoxynivalenol furan mercury and perchlorate.Annexed to the report are tables summarizing the Committee s recommendationsfor dietary exposures and toxicological evaluations of the foodcontaminants considered.