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EFSA, mineral oil hydrocarbons in food are a “potential health concern”
21 Mar 2023
While the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provisionally confirmed that some substances in the group know as mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) are a possible health con...
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EU Commission authorises two genetically modified crops as food and animal feed
22 Feb 2023
The European Commission has authorised the use of genetically modified rapeseed and has renewed the authorisation for genetically modified soy, intended for human and animal consum...
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Total copper intakes below new safe level, EFSA says
20 Jan 2023
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a new acceptable daily intake (ADI) for copper and assessed that the combined exposure to copper from all sources doe...
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PFAS: European Commission adopts new rules against dangerous contaminants in food
07 Dec 2022
The European Commission adopted new rules to protect citizens against chemicals that can have negative consequences on the immune system, the development of foe...
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New RAC assessment on the risks of glyphosate
03 Jun 2022
On May 30th, The Risk Evaluation Committee (RAC) from ECHA published the conclusions of its assessment on the various risks of glyphosate. Based on hundreds of feedbacks from vario...
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Recent call to reform the pesticides evaluation system.
17 Mar 2022
In a recent video, MEP Eric Andrieu, points out the shortcomings in the current pesticide evaluation system. Highlighting that the current situation induces a great health risk, wh...
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Acrylamide in food: the urgent need to reform the current legislation
10 Mar 2022
Acrylamide is a chemical compound generated during high-temperature cooking processes that transform sugar and amino acids present in food products. For many years the scientific c...
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Regulatory challenges: the case of E171 in the EU and the UK
10 Feb 2022
Titanium dioxide, also known as E171 is an additive very commonly used as a white colourant in food, but also in many other products, e.g., paints, cosmetics, toothpaste, etc. ...
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EFSA draft opinion suggests lowering the tolerable Bisphenol A daily intake
22 Dec 2021
In an opinion published in December 2021, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has re-assessed the risks of bisphenol A (BPA) in food, suggesting to drastically lower the tolerab...
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New French study on the harmfulness of food additives for human health
17 Nov 2021
Food additives are substances intentionally added to foodstuffs for various technological, sensory, and nutritional purposes (e.g. extending shelf life, sweetening, or stabilizing ...
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E171 ban decision confirmed in the SCoPAFF
08 Oct 2021
On 8 October 2021, the Standing Committee on Plant, Animal, Food and Feed voted in favour of a proposal submitted by the European Commission to ban food additive E 171 (Titanium di...
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European Commission redefines maximum levels for cadmium and lead in food
12 Aug 2021
On August 10th, the European Commission announced that new limits will apply for tolerated lead and cadmium levels in food products. These restrictions concern fruits, vegetables, ...
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MEPs follow up on EFSA’s opinion regarding E171
31 May 2021
On 31 May 2021, a group of 4 MEPs from 3 different groups asked the Commission about its intent to propose an EU-wide ban on food additive E171 (titanium dioxide). It is still uncl...
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E171 no longer considered safe for use as a food additive
06 May 2021
On 6 May 2021, The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its long-awaited safety assessment of titanium dioxide (TiO2) used as a food additive (E171)[1]. The assessment c...
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EFSA also enters the Front-of-Pack nutrition labelling debate
08 Feb 2021
The EU food safety agency EFSA will provide scientific opinions to help developing the EU-wide system for front-of-pack nutrition labelling of foodstuffs, including setting conditi...
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European Ombudsman asks Commission to increase transparency in the approval process for pesticides
14 Dec 2020
In a recently published decision, the EU Ombudsman has raised concerns regarding the current procedure for the approval of active substances in pesticides by the Commission. The pr...
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European Commission publishes its chemicals strategy
14 Oct 2020
The EC published its new Chemicals Strategy on the 14th October (read it here). The EU chemicals strategy aims to address the cumulative and combined effects of chemicals, includin...
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Transparency on Risk Assessment in the Food chain: SAFE’s response to Public Consultation
25 Aug 2020
SAFE replied to a Public Consultation on the Draft Implementing Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 234/2011 on EU Transparency on risk assessment in the food chain on 25 August...
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New EFSA opinion on welfare hazards in pig slaughters
24 Jun 2020
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific opinion on 17 June in the context of a series of updated assessments on animal welfare at slaughter requested by th...
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EFSA report offers snapshot into pesticide residues on food
11 Apr 2020
The European food supply chain and food safety system are proving to be extremely resilient, according to Europe’s People Party (EPP) coordinator at European ParliamentR...
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EFSA chief: EU food safety rules ensure protection against COVID-19
07 Apr 2020
Although coronavirus can survive on surfaces for a limited time, food safety regulations in EU member states ensure a high level of protection against contaminated food, said the c...
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Commissioner Kyriakides respond to 34 MEPs’ letter on E171
23 Jan 2020
On 17 December 2019, a cross-party coalition of 34 MEPs sent a letter to Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to ask for an extension of the French ban on the whit...
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EFSA extends its deadline to give an opinion on added sugars
23 Jul 2019
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has delayed the release of its opinion concerning added sugar until 2021. As obesity, type 2 diabete, tooth decay or cardiovascular diseas...
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Divided opinions about the French ban on E171
27 Jun 2019
A recent evaluation of titanium dioxide in food from the French national food safety agency ANSES belied EFSA’s assessment of this substance. The evaluation highlighted significa...
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Recycled plastics: ‘There will always be a risk’
03 Sep 2018
Until now, companies have stayed away from using recycled plastics in food packaging because of safety concerns. But times are chaning and they seem ready to reconsider their stan...
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Listeria monocytogenes: update on foodborne outbreak
06 Jul 2018
Frozen corn and possibly other frozen vegetables are the likely source of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has been affecting Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the...
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New guidance on nanotechnologies in food and feed
04 Jul 2018
EFSA has published its guidance on how to assess the safety of nanoscience and nanotechnology applications. The guidance focuses on the safety assessment for human and animal healt...
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Pesticide residues: new advice on foods for infants and young children
28 Jun 2018
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA has made a number of recommendations to further protect young infants from potential risks posed by pesticide residues in foo...
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Les agences européennes précisent la définition des perturbateurs endocriniens
12 Jun 2018
Après l’adoption fin 2017 des critères d’identification des perturbateurs endocriniens, les agences européennes ont publié le 7 juin un document d’orientation pou...
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Fipronil: results of follow-up monitoring published
07 May 2018
On 3 May 2018, EFSA published its analysis of food data collected following the widespread detection of fipronil in eggs last summer. The analysis showed that 742 out of 5,000 samp...
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EU Commission wants new powers to vet product safety
12 Apr 2018
On April 11, the European Commission proposed giving itself new powers to request scientific studies on the safety of products, in an effort to quell public concerns that industry ...
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Public consultation: sugars in food
10 Jan 2018
EFSA is seeking feedback on the approach it plans to take for its upcoming assessment of dietary sugars. The aim of the assessment is to establish a cut-off value for intake of “...
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Six member states call for glyphosate alternatives, exit plan
05 Jan 2018
Six member states that opposed the re-authorisation glyphosate, the world’s most commonly used weedkiller, sent a letter to the European Commission last month asking the EU execu...
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Is Glyphosate safe? We have the right to know
16 Dec 2017
By Emilia Korkea-aho and Päivi Leino In November 2017, after a great deal of political maneuvering, the EU Member States decided to extend authorization for glyphosate, the world...
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German vote swings EU decision on 5-year glyphosate renewal
28 Nov 2017
EU member states agreed on Monday (27 November) on a five-year renewal period for the controversial herbicide glyphosate, used by Monsanto in its Roundup product. The decision was ...
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MEPs demand glyphosate phase-out, with full ban by end 2022
24 Oct 2017
Parliament backed a full ban on glyphosate-based herbicides by December 2022 and immediate restrictions on the use of the substance, on Tuesday. Read the full article on Eur...
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EU report on weedkiller safety copied text from Monsanto study
19 Sep 2017
Exclusive: EU’s food safety watchdog recommended that glyphosate was safe but pages of report were identical to application from pesticide maker. Read the full article on The Gua...
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EU adopts bill to reduce acrylamide in popular foods
19 Jul 2017
EU member countries today adopted legislation aimed at reducing the amount of acrylamide in popular foods such as bread, cereal and chips. Read the full article from Politic...
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EU experts agree on criteria for endocrine disrupting chemicals in pesticides
12 Jul 2017
Experts from the 28 EU member states approved on Tuesday (4 July) a proposed list of criteria to identify endocrine disruptors in plant protection products – a move presented by...
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Des experts européens ont sous-estimé des études sur les dangers du glyphosate
31 May 2017
Des études qui mettent en évidence le lien entre plusieurs cas de cancer et le glyphosate ont été sous-estimées par les agences d’expertise européennes. C’est ce que rév...
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Cancer warning over posh crisps as study shows they contain three times recommended levels of acrylamide
06 Apr 2017
Eating crisps could cause cancer, a study by government-backed scientists has found, as they contain high levels of acrylamide, a known carcinogen. Tests conducted by Fera Science ...
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Fifteen percent of Brussels’ friteries surveyed selling potato fries with high levels of known carcinogen
27 Feb 2017
A snapshot survey of potato fries sold in twenty Brussels friteries has discovered three samples with levels of acrylamide, a known carcinogen, above the EU benchmark. A joint inve...
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Un cancérogène détecté à “un niveau supérieur” dans des biscuits Nestlé pour bébés: L’entreprise réagit
21 Feb 2017
De l’acrylamide, une substance cancérogène, a été retrouvée à un niveau supérieur aux indications européennes dans des biscuits pour bébés de marque Nestlé vendus ...
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Baby biscuits with high levels of known carcinogen found on sale in France
20 Feb 2017
A snapshot survey of a range of biscuits and rusks for babies and infants on sale in France shows that products with high levels of acrylamide, a known carcinogen, continue to be p...
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Commission to set maximum acrylamide levels in ready-to-eat foods
10 Feb 2017
The European Commission plans to set maximum levels for acrylamide in ready-to-eat foods such as baby foods, crisps and breakfast cereals. Read the full article on BakeryAndSnacks ...
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Bisphenol A: new immune system evidence useful but limited
14 Oct 2016
New data confirm EFSA’s previous conclusion that bisphenol A (BPA) might affect the immune system in animals, but the evidence is too limited to draw any conclusions for human he...
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Politico: Food activists attack new EU rules on cancer-causing chemical
29 Sep 2016
Newly proposed EU rules on an obscure carcinogen found in everything from chips to coffee have sparked a battle between health campaigners and lobbyists representing companies such...
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EFSA: Chemical mixtures – debating the issues
15 Jun 2016
Researchers, scientists, stakeholders and policymakers from around the world gathered recently to discuss issues surrounding the risk assessment of chemical mixtures in Europe. Rea...
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Food safety watchdog won’t discuss funding shortfall with Health Commissioner
27 Apr 2016
The EU’s food safety watchdog faces a funding shortfall over the next five years but will not discuss the issue with Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis when he visits its P...
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EFSA wants to review the chemical BPA, again
27 Apr 2016
A new report on the chemical compound Bisphenol A (BPA) has forced the EFSA, the EU’s food safety watchdog, to review the effects of the chemical on human health once more. Read ...
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