Das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

News

World Food Safety Day: 600 million reasons for good kitchen hygiene

The BfR is also participating in the World Food Safety Day again this year and providing information on its social media channels under the themed week “Food Safety at Home” about consumer-related topics such as kitchen hygiene, cross-contamination or what to look out for when eating certain raw foods.

"Next generation risk assessment": Berlin conference discusses new testing methods for chemicals

Around 350 scientists will meet in Berlin from 29 May to 1 June 2023 to discuss new methods for hazard and risk assessment of chemicals.

German-Tunisian cooperation for increased food safety

The project aims to strengthen the state structures for food safety and consumer health protection in Tunisia through activities such as staff training, policy and organisational advice, train-the-trainer programmes and management training.

Titelbild zum BfR-Verbrauchermonitor 02/2023

Many people concerned about microplastics

Which health risks are perceived as particularly acute in everyday life? In a poll of given health and consumer topics, microplastics are at the top of the concern list.

Selected Questions & Answers on Grayanotoxins in Honey

Grayanotoxins are plant toxins that occur in some rhododendron species, among others. Due to occasional cases in which honey containing grayanotoxin caused symptoms of poisoning, the BfR has answered the following questions on the subject.

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.