EFSA’s Approach to Emerging Risk Identification

To identify and assess emerging chemical risks within the EU, EFSA utilizes a multidisciplinary approach, combining toxicological, chemical, epidemiological, and other relevant data from a range of sources and stakeholders. EFSA’s Emerging Risks Exchange Network (EREN) is central to this work; EREN was established in 2010 to aid risk identification by facilitating information exchange and scientific cooperation between risk assessors in EU Member States and EFSA. Also crucial to EFSA’s risk identification process is the Stakeholder Discussion Group on Emerging Risks (StaDG-ER), which was formed in 2011 to regularly engage EFSA-registered stakeholder organizations in discussions about emerging food safety risks.

Given the uncertain and ever-changing nature of emerging chemical risks to food safety, EFSA stresses the importance of horizon-scanning, a technique used to identify potential risks by analyzing trends and developments in science, technology, and society. By anticipating future risks, EFSA can implement preventive measures. The cover story from the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Food Safety Magazine, which can be read here, delves deeply into the horizon-scanning approach and its importance in an evolving food safety landscape, written by food safety officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Identified Emerging Chemical Risks

As a result of its emerging risk identification activities undertaken between 2020 and 2023, EFSA has pinpointed several specific chemical risks stemming from new agricultural practices, industrial activities, environmental changes, and technological advancements.

Regarding new chemical risks posed by environmental pollution, EFSA first identified the accumulation of industrial chemicals, especially per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in foods. PFAS are a growing global concern due to the mounting body of evidence about their ubiquitous presence in the environment and their serious harms to human health, such as endocrine disruption and cancer.

EFSA also identified environmental pollution by toxic heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury as an important risk, which is worse in regions with high levels of industrial activity or in areas where mining and smelting operations are prevalent.

Certain residues from agricultural practices in foods were also identified as emerging risks. Specifically, dietary exposure to pesticides and herbicides causes concerns about long-term health effects, as many of these chemicals have unknown or poorly understood toxicological profiles, especially as new chemicals are developed and put onto the market.

Additionally, the presence of veterinary drugs like antibiotics and growth promoters in foods contributes to the critical global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Chemicals used in food processing and packaging can also contaminate foods and are identified as emerging chemical risks by EFSA. For example, acrylamide—a chemical that forms during high-temperature cooking processes like frying, roasting, or baking—has been identified as a potential carcinogen, raising concerns about its presence in processed foods.

The migration of chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates from food packaging into foods is also a major concern. These chemicals are known for their endocrine-disrupting properties, and ongoing research is exploring their potential health impacts. The European Commission is considering a proposal to ban BPA in food contact materials.

Climate change and globalization of the food supply have also led to the emergence of new risks to food safety. For example, climate change-driven temperature and precipitation patterns can affect the occurrence and persistence of certain contaminants in the environment, such as mycotoxins in crops. The increasing globalization of the food supply chain can also introduce new risks to regions previously unaffected, especially as food and feed are sourced from diverse regions with varying regulatory standards for contaminants.

Finally, novel food production technologies come with many unknown risks. For example, even though genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been extensively studied, the continuous development of new genetically engineered crops may cause unexpected interactions with other chemicals or unintended consequences arising from the introduction of new traits in crops.

Moreover, synthetic biology—which involves the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems—also present emerging chemical risks. The introduction of synthetic organisms into the food chain could result in the production of new compounds with unknown health effects.