News
EFSA launches full re-evaluation of BPA
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has started work on its new risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA), used in food contact materials, focussing in particular on exposure of vulnerable groups.
Organisation
European Food Safety Authority
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the keystone of European Union (EU) risk assessment regarding food and feed safety.
Vital statistics
- Headquarters: Parma, Italy
- Founded: 2002
- Website: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
Recent stories
News
EFSA and EU Member States work to tackle Schmallenberg virus
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its second report on the Schmallenberg virus (SBV).
Report
EFSA report on antimicrobial resistance affecting food
The EFSA and the ECDC have published the second joint EU report on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic bacteria affecting humans, animals and food.
News
EFSA calls for additives data
EFSA is calling for scientific data on certain food additives to assist it in developing safety assessments. EFSA is encouraging any interested parties and stakeholders to submit relevant information.
News
Campylobacter continues to increase in humans, says EFSA
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have published their annual report on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks in the European Unio
Report
Salmonella cases in humans fell by almost 9% in 2010
The EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have published their annual report on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks in the European Union for 2010.
News
EFSA opens up scientific meetings to observers
The European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) is launching a pilot project allowing observers to attend some meetings of its scientific committee and a number of its scientific panels.
News
EFSA sets population reference intakes for protein
EFSA has published population reference intakes (PRIs) for protein, completing the latest stage of its work on dietary reference values (DRVs).
News
EFSA reports on spread of Schmallenberg virus
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a preliminary analysis of the likely scenarios on how a new virus, referred to as the ‘Schmallenberg’ virus, could spread among animals soon.
News
EFSA requested to support EU with work on virus
European Commission has requested urgent scientific assistance for possible risks resulting from the Schmallenberg virus, from the EFSA.
News
EFSA is re-evaluating all food additives by 2020
The EFSA is to re-evaluate all food additives by 2020 due to consumer concerns over safety.
News
New method for assessing dairy cows’ welfare from EFSA
Animal-based measures to assess the welfare of dairy cows and pigs are effective and should be used wherever possible, according to recent scientific advice from the European Food Safety Authority (EF
News
New science strategy published by EFSA
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the European Union’s General Food Law and the establishment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
News
EFSA offers trainee opportunities
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is offering training opportunities for students or young professionals in the areas of science, communication or administration.
News
EFSA issues positive opinion on Cargill’s health claim
European food and beverage manufacturers will soon be able to use a stronger health claim on products that contain Barliv barley betafiber (beta-glucan).
News
EFSA advises on safety of bisphenol A
At the request of the European Commission, the EFSA has published a statement on bisphenol A (BPA) in response to September 2011 reports by the Anses.
News
EFSA publishes original industry studies on aspartame
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been given access to over 600 datasets for use in its full re-evaluation of the artificial sweetener aspartame.
News
Natural Hydration Council and Dr Hilary Jones on hydration
Following the press misinterpretation EFSA’s ruling on the role of water in the context of hydration, the UK based Natural Hydration Council has published this media statement.
News
EFSA and water: some clarifications from EFBW
The press has misinterpreted a list of health claims from the European Food Safety Authority, by concluding that EFSA was challenging the role of water in the context of hydration.
News
EFSA assesses the public health risk of sprouted seeds
The EFSA has evaluated the public health risk of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and other pathogenic bacteria that may contaminate seeds intended for sprouting.
News
EFSA launches draft Science Strategy
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on its draft Science Strategy 2012–2016.
News
BASF applies for European approval for new potato
BASF Plant Science has applied for EU approval for Fortuna, a genetically optimised table potato. Fortuna has a wild potato’s natural protection to late blight.
Report
EFSA finds lysozyme in wine triggers allergic reactions
The EU food safety agency has found that wines treated with egg derivative lysozyme may trigger adverse reactions in some individuals.
News
EFSA updates guidance on sprout consumption
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has revised its consumer advice on the consumption of sprouts and sprouting seeds.
News
The EFSA update on meat inspections across the EU
In May 2010 the European Commission asked EFSA to deliver a series of Scientific Opinions on public health hazards, biological and chemical, to be addressed by meat inspection.
News
EFSA confirms DSM Article 14 health claim
The EFSA has issued a positive opinion on DSM Nutritional Products application pursuant to Article 14 of the health claim regulation on the use of Vitamin D to reduce the risk of fractures.
News
Galactofructose gains EFSA recognition for intestinal health
Eight months after the positive opinion issued by EFSA on the dossier submitted by the Solvay teams on galactofructose, the European authority has made its final opinion on health claims.
News
EFSA to open a health claims help desk
The European Food Safety Authority plans to open a help desk to give natural products companies help and feedback on the process of submitting dossiers for assessment of health claims.
News
EFSA launches consultation on food derived from GM animals
EFSA outlines specific data requirements to be followed for risk assessment should applications for food and feed derived from GM animals be submitted for market authorisation in the EU.
News
EFSA paves way for EU approval of stevia
EU approval for natural sweeteners from the stevia leaf has moved one step closer after scientists at the European Food Safety Authority gave them a clean bill of health.
Opinion
EFBW rebuts ‘dismissal’ of how much water we should drink
An article written by UK GP Dr Margaret McCartney is dismissing the commonly accepted view that one should drink 6–8 glasses of water a day (or other fluids) as ‘nonsense’.
News
EFSA says yes to Toothfriendly labelling
Toothfriendly International has announced that its article 13.1 filed claim for the ‘Toothfriendly’ health claim has gained positive evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
News
EFSA publishes report on the E. coli outbreaks
An EFSA Task Force has concluded that one lot of fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt and used to produce sprouts is the most likely common link between the two E. coli outbreaks.
News
EFSA receives original studies on aspartame
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public call for data on the artificial sweetener aspartame.
News
EFSA sets up E. coli task force
Scientists from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are setting up a task force to coordinate investigations to track down the source of any contaminated sprouted seeds in the European Union.
News
EFSA issues advice to mitigate food contamination risks
The European Food Safety Authority has published its fast-track risk assessment on consumer exposure to STEC/VTEC.
News
EFBW welcomes EFSA’s positive opinion on water health claims
The European Federation of Bottled Water (EFBW) welcomes the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) positive opinion on two claims submitted in relation to water and its health benefits.
News
Beneo ingredients claims receive positive EFSA opinion
Beneo has announced that on 8 April, claims filed for Isomalt and Palatinose (isomaltulose) were positively evaluated by EFSA.
News
EFSA sued for lack of transparency over pesticides guidance
ClientEarth and Pesticides Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) have launched a case in the General Court of the EU against the European Food Safety Authority.
News
EFSA reconfirms the safety of aspartame
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a statement on two new studies on aspartame.
News
EFSA supports the use of chromium picolinate
Nutrition 21 has announced that the EFSA issued its safety assessment supporting the use of chromium picolinate.
News
EFSA Article 14 – positive opinion for oat beta-glucan
A scientific panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its positive opinion on a disease risk reduction health claim dossier for oat beta-glucan on 8 December 2010.
News
EFSA review finds most flavouring substances safe to use
Scientists at the European Food Safety Authority have completed the first stage of a comprehensive safety review of 2,067 flavouring substances used in the European Union.
News
Cognis delighted about DHA and Vitamin E claim approvals
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently published its third batch of article 13.1 health claim opinions. This included a total of 75 opinions, relating to 808 health claims.
News
EFSA updates advice on bisphenol A
scientists on the EFSA CEF Panel couldn’t identify any new evidence that would lead them to revise the current ‘Tolerable Daily Intake’ for BPA.
News
EFSA evaluates safety of stevia
The ANS Panel has assessed the safety of steviol glycosides, establishing an acceptable daily intake for their safe use.
News
EFSA publishes health claims briefing documents
The EFSA briefing documents for member states and European Commission on the evaluation of Article 13.1 health claims is available on the EFSA website.s
News
EFSA delivers opinions on ‘general function’ health claims
The European Food Safety Authority has published its first series of opinions on the list of ‘general function’ health claims compiled by member states and the European Commission.
News
EFSA publishes guidelines on active food contact substances
The EFSA has published guidelines for the industry on how to submit applications for the safety assessment of active and intelligent substances.
News
Concerns heighten for botanicals in EFSA claims process
The European Botanical Forum has expressed concern over the future of botanical products in light of the European Food Safety Authority’s method for assessing botanical claims.