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Risk communication

Risk communication is an important task of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). It is defined as a continuous and interactive process and characterised by a participatory dialogue with various stakeholders. Hence, risk communication extends far beyond providing information to all those concerned and to interested circles about the Institute’s assessment work and its findings. Providing timely information to the public at large about possible health risks, findings and work results is the basis for this dialogue.

Risk communication principles
In its risk communication activities, BfR upholds three principles in order to raise the confidence of all the stakeholders in the risk assessment process:

  • Transparency
  • Reliability
  • Greatest possible openness

Goal of a participatory dialogue
The goal of a participatory dialogue is to establish whether there are differences in the perception, assessment and handling of risks amongst the various stakeholders and interest groups. Only when there is an awareness of the values and norms on which the individual risk assessments of the participants in the dialogue are based, can they be taken into account. A dialogue of this kind may end in consensus or dissent about assessments and management options. Nevertheless, each dialogue provides valuable insight for risk managers and the decisions they take.

Stakeholders
The stakeholders of BfR and, by extension, its risk communication are wide-ranging. They include

  • federal government and federal state ministries, agencies on the municipal, regional and federal levels
  • consumer associations and their interest groups
  • scientific institutions
  • national and international agencies and organisations
  • business community and trade associations
  • media.

Besides the media, the consumer advice centres, Stiftung Warentest or the Bundeszentrum für Ernährung (BZfE, Federal Centre for Nutrition) are important multipliers when it comes to providing the public at large with information.

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Publications - Brochures

 (1)
Date Title Size
26.03.2018
BfR Information Brochure
BfR Risk Communication in Practice 2.9 MB
PDF-File

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Publications - Science Magazine

 (1)
Date Title Size
11.06.2021
Science Magazine
BfR2GO, Issue 1/2021, Key Topic: Fear 5.6 MB
PDF-File

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Other documents

 (1)
Date Title Size
01.02.2006
European Commission Special Eurobarometer
Risk Issues - Executive Summary on Food Safety 525.0 KB
PDF-File

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Press releases

 (80)
Date Title Keywords
20.11.2024
34/2024
Melatonin in food supplements: not a “gentle sleeping aid” food safety , food supplements , risk communication
08.05.2023
08/2023
Many people concerned about microplastics risk communication , risk perception
21.02.2023
03/2023
Raw food: health risks are often underestimated risk communication , risk perception
01.12.2022
44/2022
It's not rocket science German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, risk communication
31.10.2022
40/2022
A new handbook highlights six steps to successful risk communication risk communication
17.10.2022
39/2022
Product and food safety enjoys confidence risk communication , risk perception
02.11.2022
42/2022
Why trust is essential not only in times of crisis German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, risk communication
01.11.2022
41/2022
Mission: Safety first - 20 years' work in protecting consumer health German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, risk communication
11.10.2022
36/2022
On the trail of the bees' riddle - Plant labyrinth at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment attracted young and old visitors German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, risk communication
26.09.2022
34/2022
Edible insects, energy drinks and antimicrobial resistance: experience consumer health protection up close risk communication
22.09.2022
33/2022
A different kind of lesson: consumer health protection at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment - for young people risk communication
05.07.2022
26/2022
How risky is it? New "BfR2GO" issue with cover story on 20th anniversary of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment risk assessment , risk communication
30.06.2022
25/2022
How super are "superfoods" really? risk communication , superfoods
24.06.2022
24/2022
How healthy is vegan? The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment at the Long Night of the Sciences risk communication
02.05.2022
15/2022
Corona long-term effects: Just under half of the population feels well informed COVID-19/corona, risk perception, viruses
19.04.2022
13/2022
E-Cigarettes in Test electronic cigarette , risk communication
20.04.2022
14/2022
Fourth Joint Symposium on Nanotechnology nanomaterials, risk communication
04.04.2022
12/2022
Corona pandemic: Only half of the population feel well informed about the current regulations COVID-19/corona, risk perception, viruses
22.03.2022
10/2022
Food and everyday products: What is the population concerned about? risk communication , risk perception
10.02.2022
05/2022
Pills and powders: About one third of the population takes vitamins via food supplements every week food supplements , risk communication , risk perception, vitamins
07.02.2022
04/2022
Infection with the coronavirus: Two thirds of the population see a high risk in schools and day-care centres COVID-19/corona, food safety , viruses
24.01.2022
01/2022
Coronavirus: Around one third believe they cannot protect themselves from an infection COVID-19/corona, food safety , viruses
14.12.2021
48/2021
Fruits of fear risk communication , risk perception
13.12.2021
47/2021
Corona measures: New regulations met with broad acceptance COVID-19/corona, food safety , viruses
22.11.2021
46/2021
More than text: With knowledge through the Covid-19 pandemic research , risk communication
15.11.2021
45/2021
COVID-19 pandemic: Population feels less safe COVID-19/corona, food safety , viruses
29.10.2021
41/2021
Consumer perspective: Majority considers food in Germany to be safe risk communication , risk perception
04.10.2021
40/2021
3G or 2G? How the rules are received COVID-19/corona, food safety , viruses
07.09.2021
38/2021
Colourful, extended shelf life, and flavourful - What does the population think about food additives? food additives , food ingredients , food safety , risk communication
06.09.2021
37/2021
3G rule: Three out of four support the new regulations COVID-19/corona, food safety , viruses
26.07.2021
34/2021
Latest BfR-Corona-Monitor: population limits its leisure behaviour less COVID-19/corona, food safety , viruses
07.07.2021
31/2021
BfR is a well-known authority in consumer health protection risk communication
11.06.2021
26/2021
Between fear and confidence risk communication , risk perception
14.06.2021
27/2021
Growing feeling of safety among the population COVID-19/corona, food safety , viruses
02.06.2021
24/2021
A fact check on health risks risk communication
31.05.2021
21/2021
COVID-19 communication among authorities and the media COVID-19/corona, research projects, risk communication
31.05.2021
22/2021
Plant protection products: Cause for concern? plant protection products, risk communication
26.04.2021
17/2021
Consumer health protection: Majority of the population trusts science risk communication , risk perception
20.01.2021
03/2021
What's in your food: a look into the BfR MEAL Study kitchen BfR MEAL Study, food safety , risk communication
15.12.2020
44/2020
Vegan diet - a question of values food / nutrition , risk communication
26.11.2020
40/2020
What does a crisis cost? cooperations, risk communication
18.11.2020
39/2020
Chia, goji & co. - Superfoods are part of a healthy diet for approximately half of the population food ingredients , food safety , risk communication , superfoods
28.10.2020
35/2020
Attention! Danger: what fear does to us risk communication , risk perception
19.10.2020
34/2020
Population currently sees coronavirus as the greatest health risk food safety , risk communication , risk perception
10.06.2020
21/2020
Mysterious vapour publications
29.04.2020
13/2020
Consumer health protection: Over half of the population trusts state authorities food safety , risk communication , risk perception
18.12.2019
52/2019
Small parts - big impact? Microplastics in food publications
04.12.2019
50/2019
Health risks: a picture is worth a thousand words risk communication
29.08.2019
34/2019
When the crisis hits: International crisis practice helps prepare for an emergency scenario risk communication
04.06.2019
19/2019
Antibiotics at the limit? Bacteria defending themselves against reserve drugs publications
13.06.2019
22/2019
Health risks - what role does age play? risk communication
05.11.2018
37/2018
Charred instead of crispy - Why over-frying is risky publications
19.11.2018
42/2018
Tattoos are popular - Half of all Germans regard tattoo inks as safe risk communication , risk perception, tattoo
22.10.2018
33/2018
Microplastics in food - many unanswered questions among scientists and the general public risk communication
07.06.2018
21/2018
Tattoos: Body decoration with risks publications
07.05.2018
16/2018
Majority of the population trusts state structures in consumer health protection risk communication
14.03.2018
10/2018
Aluminium and food - almost half the population tries to avoid aluminium in everyday life aluminium , risk communication
17.10.2017
42/2017
Vegan diet as lifestyle choice and the need for risk communication research projects, risk communication
02.11.2017
45/2017
Everyday risks at a glance - Promoting risk-literate decisions with transparent visualisations research , risk communication , risk profile
04.10.2017
39/2017
Germs in the kitchen: Salmonella better known than Campylobacter risk communication
07.09.2017
31/2017
Contaminants in food: health risks of natural origin are frequently underestimated arsenic, contaminants , Kontaminante, pyrrolizidine alkaloids
18.04.2017
14/2017
Important topics of consumer health protection still widely unknown risk communication
02.05.2016
15/2016
Three quarters of the population believe that food in Germany is safe risk communication
01.03.2016
10/2016
Divergence between media reporting and scientific assessment leads to scepticism among consumers glyphosate, pesticides, risk communication
23.11.2015
36/2015
Scientific expertise for those on the move risk assessment , risk communication
12.10.2015
27/2015
The large majority of consumers believe food in Germany is safe risk communication
22.01.2015
03/2015
BfR study on risk perception: the majority of German consumers believe that animal farming is the cause of antimicrobial resistance antimicrobial resistance, risk communication
15.08.2014
22/2014
Advanced training and networking for experts from all over the world food safety , risk communication
19.04.2013
10/2013
Risk at a glance risk communication , risk profile
23.03.2011
09/2011
Science in the service of humanity online
12.03.2010
05/2010
Natural and social sciences jointly research, assess and communicate risks
26.02.2010
04/2010
"Risk" or "hazard"? Experts do not all distinguish between these two terms in the same way
17.12.2008
28/2008
Theory and Practice of Risk Communication
18.11.2008
23/2008
Risk assessment and risk communication: Good rating for BfR
10.11.2008
21/2008
Positive image of nanotechnology in the media
19.12.2007
23/2007
The majority of consumers view the development of nanotechnology favourably
22.08.2006
23/2006
More proactive communication on nanotechnology!
04.11.2005
34/2005
BfR makes its knowledge "easily accessible" to everyone
26.09.2005
29/2005
Risk communication: More than a targeted exchange of information
07.09.2005
28/2005
Crises cost money, dent confidence and create opportunities

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