The aim of the annual priority action "Environmental contaminants in food - monitoring" is to monitor selected foodstuffs for dioxins, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and non-dioxin-like PCBs. A total of 23 samples were analyzed. One sample was rejected for exceeding the legal maximum level for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are carcinogenic substances. Dioxins are formed under certain conditions during combustion processes or during the chemical synthesis of various chlorine-containing compounds. These compounds are very persistent and difficult to degrade. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) have been banned worldwide since 2001. These are around 200 substances that were used in insulating fluids in transformers and capacitors, but also as plasticizers in plastics or in joint sealants. These substances are also very persistent and can subsequently end up in animal feed and food.