BfR Annual Report 2015

More information (in German) on

the BfR MEAL Study at:

One of the main aims of the BfR MEAL Study is to generate content

data that is representative of German eating habits. To this end, the

foods consumed in Germany are aggregated into groups for each of

which the scientists establish a representative pool from samples of

the prepared foods. The pools can also be differentiated by certain

criteria depending on the food and substance group examined, e. g.

by regional and seasonal differences or by ecological or conventional

cultivation. In this way, roughly 4,000 pooled samples will emerge from

around 60,000 sub-samples over the coming years. In the basis mod-

ule, the pools are examined for certain substance groups, including

heavy metals and dioxins. Some of these pools and additional foods

are further analysed in substance-specific modules for process con-

taminants or food additives, for example. The modular structure of the

BfR MEAL Study makes it possible to deal with the specific peculiarities

of each substance group and address a large variety of issues.

The goal of the BfR MEAL Study is to better identify possible food risks

for the German population. The first results will likely be available in late

2018/early 2019 in the form of recommendations for risk management

and consumption recommendations.

Sequence of the BfR MEAL Study

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Selection of

foods

Purchase

throughout

Germany

Preparation in

the BfR kitchen

Pooling and

homogenisation

Analysis

Evaluation

and exposure

estimation

Main Topics 2015

BfR MEAL Study