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BfR Risk Profile

The BfR prepares health assessments for the areas of food, consumer products and chemicals. These scientific opinions are published on the BfR website along with an easily understandable lead paragraph. As a new service, the results of selected opinions have been summarised graphically in a BfR risk profile since January 2013.

Opinions with a BfR risk profile

In future, the BfR risk profile will be integrated into all suitable opinions newly published by the BfR in the internet.

Important note

Every BfR profile is to be accompanied by an important note: The risk profile is intended to visualise the risk described in the BfR opinion. It is not intended to compare risks. The risk profile should only be read in conjunction with the opinion.

General description of a BfR risk profile

The clear and concise conveyance of a set of facts is the main focus of a BfR risk profile. With the risk profile, the readers can quickly recognise the circumstances and main characteristics of the risk assessed in the BfR opinion. The chart is structured as a table containing the five characteristics (see example in the illustration):

  • Affected groups of persons
  • The probability of impaired health in the event of exposure
  • The severity of impaired health in the event of exposure
  • The validity of the available data and
  • The possibilities for consumers to control the risk through such measures as avoidance or caution.

Each applicable risk characteristic is highlighted in dark blue.

BfR Risk Profile

Goals of the BfR risk profile: transparency, comprehensibility, relevance

BfR risk profiles offer value added to all consumers and addressees of the BfR opinions. The graphic presentation of the risk characteristics increases the transparency of BfR risk assessments through standardised terminology, thus improving comprehensibility through standardised presentation.

The BfR issues recommendations on how consumers can protect themselves from risks. The information on how people can control health risks by themselves is of particular interest to consumers and to the BfR within the scope of its risk communication. A risk is often perceived by consumers as being more significant if they do not have any control over it. Information on the controllability of risks plays an important role in risk perception for this reason.

Development and evaluation of the BfR risk profile

The BfR risk profile was developed by the BfR in various internal and external test phases in cooperation with scientists from various disciplines. Risk profiles supplement BfR opinions and are based on the BfR Guideline for Health Assessments.

Risk profiles are evaluated constantly. The comments of all readers concerning the BfR risk profile are being collected and evaluated to begin with in a three-month pilot phase.

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Opinion

 (45)
Date Title Size
27.06.2017
BfR Opinion No. 011/2017
Wild boar meat can contain Duncker’s muscle fluke 55.0 KB
PDF-File
31.07.2020
BfR Opinion no. 035/2020
Vitamin D: consumption of high-dose food supplements is unnecessary 300.8 KB
PDF-File
17.06.2020
BfR Opinion No 026/2020
Updated risk assessment on levels of 1,2-unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in foods 1016.0 KB
PDF-File
07.04.2015
Updated BfR opinion No. 009/2015
Two bitter apricot kernels per day are the limit for adults - children should refrain from consuming apricot kernels altogether 40.4 KB
PDF-File
08.11.2018
BfR Opinion No 034/2018
Tetrahydrocannabinol levels are too high in many hemp-containing foods - health impairments are possible 686.3 KB
PDF-File
23.04.2018
BfR Opinion No 010/2018
Table potatoes should contain low levels of glycoalkaloids (solanine) 82.6 KB
PDF-File
19.04.2018
BfR Opinion No 009/2018
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in food: Prediction of the disease-causing potential of the various strains not yet possible 43.8 KB
PDF-File
27.03.2017
BfR Opinion No 003/2017
Risk assessment of the occurrence of alkaloids in lupin seeds 312.7 KB
PDF-File
07.12.2018
Updated BfR Opinion No. 040/2018
Risk assessment of chondroitin sulfate in food supplements 257.2 KB
PDF-File
01.10.2015
BfR Opinion No. 035/2015
Results of the National Residue Control Plan and Import Control Plan for 2013 confirm a high level of safety with foods of animal origin 63.8 KB
PDF-File
12.04.2019
BfR Opinion No 013/2019
Resistant bacteria: Wash uncooked vegetables and lettuce thoroughly and prepare them fresh by yourself 277.9 KB
PDF-File
18.11.2019
BfR Opinion No 045/2019
Reducing aluminium intake can minimise potential health risks 174.3 KB
PDF-File
08.07.2022
BfR Opinion No 019/2022
Reclaimed wastewater: preventing viral pathogens on plant foods 247.0 KB
PDF-File
21.04.2020
BfR opinion No 021/2020
Reclaimed waste water: preventing bacterial pathogens on fresh fruit and vegetables 774.0 KB
PDF-File
13.04.2016
BfR Opinion No 008/2016
Raw milk: boiling protects against infection with Campylobacter 40.4 KB
PDF-File
28.09.2016
BfR Opinion No. 030/2016
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids: Levels in foods should continue to be kept as low as possible 42.4 KB
PDF-File
05.07.2013
BfR Opinion No. 018/2013
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal teas and teas 313.6 KB
PDF-File
13.05.2019
BfR Opinion No 017/2019
Pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels in dried and deep-frozen spices and herbs too high 151.2 KB
PDF-File
17.09.2019
BfR Opinion No. 036/2019
Polyamide Kitchen Utensils: Keep contact with hot food as brief as possible 427.7 KB
PDF-File
28.06.2021
BfR Opinion no. 020/2021
PFAS in food: BfR confirms critical exposure to industrial chemicals 734.5 KB
PDF-File
11.03.2014
BfR Opinion No. 014/2014
New EU maximum levels for dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in livers of terrestrial animals and in sheep liver 108.4 KB
PDF-File
11.05.2018
BfR Opinion No 011/2018
Hygiene for chicken eggs – protection from Campylobacter 37.5 KB
PDF-File
27.02.2018
Updated BfR Opinion No. 008/2018
Highly refined mineral oils in cosmetics: Health risks are not to be expected according to current knowledge 167.6 KB
PDF-File
13.11.2013
Opinion No 035/2014 of the BfR
High tropane alkaloid levels in cereal products: Health impairments are possible in individuals with heart problems 115.7 KB
PDF-File
09.04.2019
BfR Opinion No 012/2019
Harmful compounds might be formed when foods containing the sweetener Sucralose are heated 400.6 KB
PDF-File
10.02.2014
BfR Opinion No. 015/2014
Hair colouring products: self-tests can cause allergies 46.6 KB
PDF-File
21.12.2018
BfR Opinion No 045/2018
Game meat: health assessment of human-pathogenic parasites 661.3 KB
PDF-File
02.11.2017
BfR Opinion No. 032/2017
Food supplements with whole-leaf Aloe preparations containing anthranoids are associated with health risks 39.3 KB
PDF-File
20.12.2019
BfR Opinion No. 052/2019
Food supplements - High intake of isolated branched-chain amino acids can lead to health impairments 574.9 KB
PDF-File
25.11.2019
Opinion No. 046/2019 of BfR
Fillable articles made from melamine formaldehyde resin, such as coffee-to-go cups sold as 'bambooware', may leak harmful substances into hot foods 1.6 MB
PDF-File
07.08.2018
BfR Opinion No 026/2018
EU maximum levels for cadmium in food for infants and young children sufficient - Exposure to lead should fundamentally be reduced to the achievable minimum 160.8 KB
PDF-File
07.10.2020
BfR Opinion No 047/2020
Dry ice: carbon dioxide poisoning is possible 305.4 KB
PDF-File
21.09.2020
Opinion No 043/2020 of the BfR
Ceramic crockery: BfR recommends lower release of lead and cadmium 592.8 KB
PDF-File
05.09.2018
BfR Opinion No 028/2018
Brucellosis: Although risk of infection from mare's milk is low in Germany, BfR still recommends heat treatment 245.9 KB
PDF-File
11.09.2017
BfR Opinion No.026/2017
Botulism risk through salted and dried roach 57.1 KB
PDF-File
08.06.2015
BfR Opinion no. 044/2015
Bisphenol F in mustard: adverse effects on health due to the measured BPF concentrations are unlikely 37.9 KB
PDF-File
12.05.2014
BfR opinion No. 028/2014
BfR recommendations for the health assessment of chlorate residues in food 38.8 KB
PDF-File
29.04.2014
BfR opinion No. 013/2014
Assessment report on the findings of the National Residue Control Plan 2012 and the Import Control Plan 2012 37.1 KB
PDF-File
02.07.2013
BfR Opinion Nr. 017/2013
Assessment of a possible connection between milk consumption and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus 64.2 KB
PDF-File
24.06.2014
BfR Opinion No. 018/2015
Arsenic in Rice and Rice Products 306.3 KB
PDF-File
26.02.2014
BfR opinion No. 007/2014
Aluminium-containing antiperspirants contribute to aluminium intake 158.7 KB
PDF-File
08.01.2020
BfR opinion No 001/2020
Allulose, sugar substitute: More data is required for a health assessment as a food ingredient 306.3 KB
PDF-File
20.10.2022
BfR Opinion No.027/2022
Acute botulism in German dairy herds: human cases of botulism from the consumption of milk and dairy products are very unlikely 213.3 KB
PDF-File
15.01.2020
BfR opinion No 003/2020
A questionable way to lower cholesterol: food supplements containing red yeast rice to be taken only on medical advice 345.4 KB
PDF-File
18.06.2018
BfR Opinion No 021/2018
Francisella tularensis infections from foods unlikely 41.1 KB
PDF-File

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Press releases

 (2)
Date Title Keywords
02.11.2017
45/2017
Everyday risks at a glance - Promoting risk-literate decisions with transparent visualisations research , risk communication , risk profile
19.04.2013
10/2013
Risk at a glance risk communication , risk profile

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