In an article published on June 7, 2019, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced “the first ever World Food Safety Day (WFSD)” celebrated on the same day “to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development.”
Concomitantly, EFSA launched the report on a new Eurobarometer survey that it has carried out to examine the EU citizens’ opinions and concerns about food safety risks. The survey showed that “there is no single concern that predominates in all EU countries,” while four concerns cited most often included “‘antibiotic, hormone or steroid residues in meat (44%), ‘pesticide residues in food’ (39%), ‘environmental pollutants in fish, meat or dairy’ (37%) and ‘additives like colors, preservatives or flavorings used in food and drinks’ (36%).” In 2010, when the previous Eurobarometer study on food safety was carried out, similar issues predominated as well. However, in the new survey, also some “new issues such as microplastics have appeared on the food safety radar for the first time,” EFSA noted. To address this issue, on June 6 and 7, 2019, the German Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) held a consumer protection forum dedicated to microplastics, preceded by a publication of a FAQ on microplastics published on June 5, 2019 (in German).
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EFSA (June 7, 2019). “‘Food safety, everybody’s business’ – the first World Food Safety Day 2019.”
EFSA (June 7, 2019). “Europeans on today’s food issues: new EU-wide survey comes out on first World Food Safety Day.”
EFSA (2019). “2019 Eurobarometer on Food Safety in the EU.”
EFSA (June 2019). “Food safety in the EU.” Special Eurobarometer Wave EB91.3. (pdf)
BfR (June 5, 2019). “Mikroplastik: Fakten, Forschung und offene Fragen. Fragen und Antworten.” (in German)
BfR (June 6, 2019). “Mikroplastik – Fakten, Forschung und Fragen.” (in German)
WHO (June 5, 2019). “23 million people falling ill from unsafe food each year in Europe is just the tip of the iceberg.”
FDA (June 7, 2019). “Remarks on World Food Safety Day: ‘Food safety is everyone’s business.’”
EC (June 7, 2019). “Statement by Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, on World Food Safety Day.”
BEUC (June 7, 2019). “World Food Safety Day: what the EU has done and must still do.”
Antoine Germain (June 7, 2019). “Poll: Europeans care more about food origins than safety.” Euractiv
Bernhard Url (June 7, 2019). “EU should celebrate but not remain complacent about food safety.” Euractiv
