Das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

News

Alkenylbenzenes in food: How large is the health risk?

Some foods may naturally contain potentially harmful (toxic) substances. These include alkenylbenzenes, for example, which occur as secondary plant constituents in certain herbs and spices, such as basil, fennel and parsley, among others.

BfR-Corona-Monitor – as to 2–3 August 2022

Proven hygiene measures continue to play an important role in containing the coronavirus. For example, 67 percent of the respondents say they have washed their hands more thoroughly within the last two weeks. 48 percent have also used disinfectants more frequently in the same period.

Reclaimed wastewater in agriculture: health risk from pathogens on fruit and vegetables?

German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) advises against irrigation in certain cases.

Ciguatera: cases of poisoning from ciguatoxins (algal toxins) in marine fish and shellfish

Ciguatoxin poisoning, or 'ciguatera' when referring to outbreak cases, can occur after consuming a meal prepared from certain marine fish or shellfish and is recognized as one of the most common non-bacterial seafood poisonings worldwide. While rare in Germany, ciguatera cases could increase in the future as the global trade of marine products continues to expand.

Das Titelblatt des BfR-Wissenschaftsmagazins 1-2022

How risky is it? New "BfR2GO" issue with cover story on 20th anniversary of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment

This year, the Institute turns 20. To mark the occasion, the tenth issue of the "BfR2GO" science magazine focuses on how the institute came into being and its working methods, as well as on future challenges.

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.