Tag: European Food Safety Authority

A controversial study pointing to health risks from a type of genetically modified maize and a related pesticide did not provide grounds for questioning previous safety approvals, the French government said on Monday (22 October). But Paris also urged the EU to revamp its food safety procedures and said it would maintain its national moratorium on GM goods.

MEPs have upheld plans to create a fixed number of standardised nutritional claims on food and beverages, paving the way for 222 claims such as "low fat" or "reduced cholesterol" to be carried on food packaging.

The European Food Safety Authority, seeking to deflect criticism over the independence of its work, yesterday (5 March) announced moves to clarify disclosure rules and guidelines on who can serve as scientific experts.

Germany has finally pinned down the deadly E.coli outbreak to contaminated bean sprouts and shoots grown at an organic farm in northern Germany. But officials said they do not plan to take legal action against the organic grower, saying the contamination was down to "bad luck".

The vast majority of European citizens have a general negative perception of animal cloning for food production, saying that too little is known of its long-term health and safety effects, according to an EU-wide poll presented yesterday (9 October) by the European Commission.

Amid growing criticism of its GMO bias and growing overall workload, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has decided to develop a database of external scientific experts to help the agency carry out risk assessments and enhance the transparency of the expert recruitment process. 

Just as the European food safety agency is reviewing EU legislation on food additives, a UK study found that certain mixtures of food additives - likely to be found in soft drinks, confectionery and ice cream - can cause hyperactivity in children. 

At the opening ceremony of the European Food Safety Authority, the Commission President Barroso emphasised the role of the agency in increasing consumer confidence.