The 14th annual Operation OPSON, led by Europol to crack-down on counterfeit and substandard food and beverages circulating the EU, resulted in the seizure of 11.6 million kilograms of food and 1.4 million liters of beverages.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released its 2025 Eurobarometer Survey on Food Safety in the EU, which gauges the awareness and perceptions of EU food safety systems and risks among European citizens.
The changes are intended to reduce burdens on farmers, industry, and national authorities. A major outcome of the amendments would be a reduced time to market for agricultural biocontrol products.
More than 300 patients infected by the outbreak strain of Salmonella Strathcona have been identified in 19 EU/EEA countries, the UK, the U.S., and Canada. Tomatoes from Italy are the vehicle of infection.
A French analysis of anaphylaxis cases revealed eight foods causing a notable number of allergic reactions, which are not included on the EU list of major food allergens requiring mandatory labeling. The researchers recommend four of these hidden allergens for inclusion on the list.
The new CompreHensive European Food Safety (CHEFS) database unifies nearly 400 million chemical contaminant analytical results from two decades of EU food safety monitoring activities, enabling the analysis of this previously disparate data. Using their new database, researchers identified food safety trends across Europe between 2000 and 2024.
After an updated risk assessment on fluoride exposure in the EU, focusing especially on developmental neurotoxicity in children, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) revised the tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) for fluoride. EFSA concluded there is no major health risk considering the new ULs and current EU drinking water limits for fluoride.
Denmark has banned 23 pesticides containing six active ingredients known to break down into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) that easily contaminates water and has been found in food products.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently completed an assessment of estragole—a naturally occurring genotoxin and carcinogen—in fennel seed preparations, concluding that consumption of fennel seed preparations may be toxic to infants, children, and fetuses. EFSA is seeking public comment.
