Das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

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Beeswax cloths: what should you look out for?

When the food is covered with the beeswax cloth, warm pressure from the hands on the wax creates a type of solid packaging. Substances may then pass unintentionally from this packaging to the packaged food.

BfR-Corona-Monitor - as to 30 - 31 March

In the current survey, 40 percent of the respondents say they have been tested for the coronavirus in the past two weeks. In addition, before Easter, the majority are relying on the common measures to protect themselves from the coronavirus: covers for mouth and nose, distance to others, reducing contacts and more thorough hand washing.

When the immune system overreacts - schoolgirls and a BfR scientist talk about allergies

The "NATürlich - Schoolgirls Meet Scientists" seminar series allows girls from the 10th grade onwards to discover more about various scientific fields of work and to get a glimpse into the everyday working life of female researchers.

Eine Frau wählt Nahrungsergänzungsmittel aus einem Supermarktregal aus

Maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements and fortified foods

The market of food supplements and fortified foods is diverse and continuously growing. Approximately one third of adults in Germany regularly use food supplements, many of which contain vitamins and minerals.

Banner zur Bf3R-Forschungsförderung 2021

Research for animal welfare - apply now

The German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes the current call of the Bf3R Research Funding. It awards funds for scientific research projects in accordance with the 3R principle (Replace, Reduce, Refine). Deadline is May, 31st 2021

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.

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).

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.

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.