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Experience nature and learn playfully in the world's largest scent and aroma pig

25/2011, 27.07.2011

BfR opens its third didactic plant maze

The BfR Smelling & Tasting Maze, an experience path in the world's largest scent and aroma pig, opens its doors in Berlin-Marienfelde from 6 August to 18 September 2011 and invites guests of all ages to a voyage of discovery. On entwined ways and wrong ways through plants and flowers, along tasting and smelling patches, scent organs and a “stinkodrome”, visitors are introduced to interesting facts concerning the work of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). A central theme of the didactic plant maze is "Smelling and tasting - how safe are scents and aromas?" "With the BfR Smelling & Tasting Maze we inform already for the third year in a row visitors in an illustrative and entertaining way about important aspects of consumer health protection", says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. The two mazes of the previous years had attracted more than 20,000 visitors.

On a five hectare large field at the BfR Berlin-Marienfelde location plants and ways represent, seen from the air, ‘Schnuffi’, a piglet nosing a rose. An around 2.5 kilometre long way and various wrong ways lead through a jungle of maize, millet, amaranth, mint, lovage, coriander, curry plants and other plants and herbs whose diverse colours, leaves, blossoms, scents and aromas stimulate the senses.

Smelling and tasting are also addressed through many different contents. On the educational trail which leads through the maze, visitors learn a lot about scents and aromas. How are they perceived? What role do they play for humans and the world of flora and fauna? Why are "natural" substances basically not better than "artificial" ones? BfR shows that scents are not only found in detergents but also in toys and in the ambient air. On their way, visitors are also informed about the health risks of scents and aromas. During their walk they must answer "tricky questions". Only the right answer will help them find the right way through the maze.

Scent organs, smelling and tasting patches and a "stinkodrome" invite visitors to nose very different scents and identify them. The visitors can test their smelling and tasting at different stations in the field. In the more than 1,000 m2 large entrance area kids can play and rollick about in a straw castle. During the weekends all creature comforts are offered here.

The BfR Smelling & Tasting Maze is open from 6 August to 18 September 2011, from Tuesday to Sunday between 10.00am and 6.00pm. Adults pay EUR 2, kids EUR 1; family tickets are available for EUR 5. Daycare groups and school classes should register in advance via the homepage; entrance is free for them.

More information: www.pflanzenlabyrinth.de

About BfR

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientific institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). It advises the Federal Government and Federal Laender on questions of food, chemical and product safety. BfR engages in own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.

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