Das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

News

Swallowed button cells can cause serious harm to small children

Not just at Christmas: Electronic toys pose hidden risks

New ways of working together on food safety: BfR agrees on work plan with UK authorities

On 3 December 2024, a delegation from the UK food safety authorities – the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) – visited the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin.

Lupins, insects or lab-grown meat: what is the current state of health risk assessment for alternative protein sources?

The BfR has compiled a selection of questions and answers on the topic of “alternative protein sources”.

Risk assessment of chemicals in food and feed: An international endeavour

BfR organises conference of ILMERAC organisations

Product Notifications and Poisonings

The Institute

The Institute was set up in November 2002 to strengthen consumer health protection. It is the scientific agency of the Federal Republic of Germany which is responsible for preparing expert reports and opinions on food and feed safety as well as on the safety of substances and products.

For health assessment the decisive factor is whether and, if so, on what scale consumers come into contact with the substances contained in the products and what health risks these might entail. This requires knowledge about the numerous substances, materials and their processing into various products.

BfR endeavours to constantly undertake topical assessments of the risks associated with foods - be it from heavy metals, pesticide residues, toxic ingredients or the like (substance risks), be it from bacteria, viruses or fungi (microbial risks) or be it risks from novel technologies in food production (novel foods).

Chemicals are encountered in almost all areas of daily life. That's why stiff requirements must be imposed to ensure the safe handling of chemicals. The proper handling of chemicals may not constitute a risk to the health of man or to the environment.