Food in the EU subject to strictest standards
Using the slogan "EU and My Food" as part of a new campaign, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) presents the food safety system in the EU. Its standards are the highest in an international comparison. With the initiative, EFSA is highlighting the areas of food production and processing, livestock farming, environmental protection and nature conservation. As the EFSA Focal Point in Germany, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is also represented in the campaign with publications on the latest challenges, such as antimicrobial resistance and microplastics in food. "Food safety is one of the most urgent tasks of consumer protection," says BfR President, Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. Through this measure on EU level, risks such as foodborne disease outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance are to be reduced.
(https://www.efsa.europa.eu/de/eu-and-my-food)
The health of humans, animals and the environment is interconnected in many ways. To ensure that fruit and vegetables, meat, milk and eggs are safe, the entire food chain has to be observed - from the field to the shed to the processing plant. The EFSA campaign "EU and My Food" shows how the interplay of agriculture with the food industry and veterinary and health authorities works on EU level. One of the main components and an information anchor of the campaign is the accompanying internet portal in English which leads to the corresponding websites in the 23 other official EU languages. The portal offers more detailed links to food safety topics in the EU member states.
"EU and My Food" focuses on food safety measures in the EU. A video explains the close connection between food safety, livestock farming, environmental protection and nature conservation. Animations illustrate the dependency of humans, animals and the environment with regard to health. These three main pillars of the EU food safety system require safe and nutritious food for people in the EU, improved living conditions for livestock, the sustainable cultivation of food and environmental protection. "EU and My Food" describes how the EU monitors the safety of food in line with internationally recognised scientific standards and in cooperation with the authorities in the member states. Aspects that are monitored include the production, ingredients, processing, storage, packaging and labelling of foods.
Increasing global networking of production and trading processes poses fresh challenges to the safety of food for all stakeholders along the complex international supply chains. Antimicrobial resistance in the food chain is one of the most volatile examples of this.
About the EFSA Focal Point at the BfR
The EFSA Focal Points in the European member states, Iceland and Norway are an essential instrument for a comprehensive and continuous exchange of information, networking, inclusion and the expansion of the assessment capacities on health risks posed by foods and feeds. The German EFSA Focal Point is located at the BfR to link up all institutions and authorities in Germany involved with food and feed safety, as well as animal and plant health.
About the BfR
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. It advises the Federal Government and Federal Laender on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfR conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.
This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.