Science in action World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2025

The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment assesses the health risks of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites – i.e. microbial risks – as well as the material risks of ingredients and additives, residues and contaminants in food and feed. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also deals with the nutritional and physiological assessment of food. The toxicological assessment of food is intended to help ensure that the substances contained in food are only present in amounts that are harmless to health.

The “from farm to fork” principle applies: Animals can only provide healthy food if they are given ideal feed; fruit, vegetables and grains can only be consumed without any expected risk if they have been produced safely. Against this background, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also assesses possible health risks from plants, including feed.

There are currently 15 National Reference Laboratories (NRL) at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. They are highly qualified in their respective fields and, like the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment itself, are characterised by political, social and economic independence. The establishment of the NRLs ensures that work is carried out according to uniform standards throughout Europe. This is particularly important for the monitoring and control of food, making the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment part of an EU-wide network for the refinement of food monitoring.

This includes the NRL for Salmonella. The NRL is primarily concerned with the serological and molecular biological differentiation of Salmonella isolates from food, feed and primary production in Germany and provides support in the clarification of infection chains and foodborne disease outbreaks. The development and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance are monitored together with the NRL for Antibiotic Resistance. Resistance to antibiotics that are used to treat already multi-resistant germs is a particular focus here. Every year, around 14,000 people in Germany fall ill as a result of eating food impurities containing salmonella. The illnesses are mainly due to the consumption of raw or insufficiently heated eggs, poultry meat and products made from these. Other animal food products such as pork can also play a role.

With around 45,000 cases reported each year, Campylobacter bacteriaare the most common bacterial cause of intestinal diseases in Germany. This bacterium is being closely scrutinised by the NRL for Campylobacter. The work focuses on research into the characterisation and differentiation of Campylobacter isolates from animals, food and environmental samples. Campylobacter are difficult to cultivate in the laboratory, hence the refinement of diagnostic methods is a priority at the NRL. One of the main sources of infection is insufficiently heated, contaminated poultry meat and the transfer of bacteria to other foods during the preparation of raw chicken meat. The NRL for Campylobacter is also involved in the antibiotic resistance testing of Campylobacter and provides support in the clarification of infection chains. 

The National Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli, including verotoxin-producing E. colishort forEscherichia coli (VTECshort forVero toxin-producing E. coli), is investigating why it is better to avoid snacking on raw dough. Bacteria of the species Escherichia coli are a natural part of the intestinal flora of humans and other warm-blooded mammals and birds. Infections are also mainly due to the consumption of contaminated raw or insufficiently heated animal food products. Plant-based food can also be contaminated. The NRL is working on further developing and standardising various methods for pathogen detection and is also involved in the clarification of infection chains and foodborne disease outbreaks.

The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is part of the “WHO Alliance for Food Safety” network. The members work together to strengthen food safety systems, exchange knowledge and coordinate measures in connection with the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030, in particular with regard to the monitoring of foodborne diseases and contamination. 

Further information about the network can be found on the External Link:WHO website.

To introduce even the youngest children to the topic of food safety, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment recently published its first children's book called “Luis' and Maya's Adventures in the Shrink Lab: Searching for Clues in the Kitchen”. Together with the friendly Bacillus Fred, the children pursue a bacterial villain. In addition to their detective work, they find out why regular hand washing is essential, how bacteria also multiply in the refrigerator and why certain foods should be cooked thoroughly before eating. 

The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment children's book is aimed at children from the 1st year of school. It can be read directly on the BfR website or ordered free of charge.

What are the latest food trends all about? How much vitamin B12 is in a hen's egg? And why should you avoid eating raw cake batter? These questions are answered in the current issue of the knowledge magazine BfR2GO (2/2024) with a focus on kitchen hygiene. Twice a year, the magazine focuses on a topic from one of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment's current areas of work. In the form of reports, interviews and news on these topics, the knowledge magazine provides up-to-date and well-founded information on the latest developments in assessment and research in consumer health protection and the protection of laboratory animals. 

Interested parties can read the magazine directly on the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment website in German or English. With a free subscription, the BfR2GO is conveniently delivered to your letterbox.

What are the respective institutions in the different German Federal States responsible for? The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment's online World Almanac provides a detailed overview of the administrative structures of various countries in the area of food and feed safety. The first version of the Online World Almanac went online in 2022. It has now been fundamentally revised, offers numerous new functions and has a new look. Thanks to the improved filter and search functions, users now have a simpler overview and can find the information they are looking for quickly and interactively. Currently, 39 countries are represented with their profiles in the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Online Almanac. Thanks to the online format, each country has access to its own profile and is responsible for keeping it up to date. 

The online World Almanac can be found External Link:here.

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH) in Germany. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.