Agencia Europea para la Seguridad Alimentaria

What is the reality of being a female scientist in Europe? In celebration of the International Day of Girls and Women in Science on 11 February, we’re exploring women in science. How far have we come in ensuring women’s voices are the norm in science? What does the journey toward greater female representation look like from the perspective of someone living it every day? To find out, we turned to our own Océane Albert, who shared her experiences as a former researcher, now scientist in EFSA’s novel food team, and a new mum. 

Por primera vez, las cinco agencias de salud y medioambientales de la UE (EFSA, ECDC, ECHA, EEA y EMA)[i], apoyadas por el JRC, examinaron cómo afecta a la salud pública el uso de sustancias azólicas fuera de la medicina humana.Los medicamentos azólicos son esenciales para el tratamiento de la aspergilosis, una infección grave causada por hongos Aspergillus. Sin embargo, estos hongos son cada vez más resistentes a los azoles, lo que hace que el tratamiento sea menos eficaz.Los azoles se utilizan ampliamente en productos de protección fitosanitaria (pesticidas) para controlar las enfermedades causadas por hongos en el ámbito de la agricultura y la horticultura, como medicamentos veterinarios para tratar las micosis en animales, como biocidas en conservantes de la madera, como productos químicos industriales (p. ej., sustancias intermedias y colorantes) y en cosméticos (p. ej., productos anticaspa).El informe conjunto destaca que su uso generalizado fuera de la medicina humana, especialmente en la agricultura, contribuye al riesgo de que el Aspergillus se vuelva resistente a los azoles. La exposición Concentración o cantidad de una sustancia concreta que absorbe una persona, población o ecosistema con una frecuencia específica en un periodo determinado de tiempo a ciertos entornos en los que se utilizan o están presentes los fungicidas azólicos, tales como los residuos agrícolas y hortícolas o la madera recién cortada, podría aumentar el riesgo de infección por Aspergillus spp. resistente a los azoles.Los datos recogidos de los países de la UE y del EEE (2010-2021) e incluidos en el informe detallan el uso de fungicidas azólicos en toda Europa. Los productos de protección fitosanitaria representan la mayor parte de las ventas notificadas en todos los sectores.Bernhard Url, Director Ejecutivo en funciones de la EFSA, ha declarado:«El impacto del uso de fungicidas azólicos en la agricultura y otros sectores ajenos a la medicina humana sobre la resistencia a los antifúngicos pone de manifiesto la necesidad crítica de equilibrar unas prácticas eficaces con la protección de la salud y el medio ambiente. El enfoque «Una sola salud» nos permite aunar diversos conocimientos para hacer frente a este reto y salvaguardar la salud pública para las generaciones futuras.»

“Global developments demand that we stay alert and make sure Europe is prepared to respond to the threat of avian influenza,” said Pamela Rendi-Wagner, ECDC Director.  “ECDC is supporting EU/EEA Member States in preparing, preventing and containing potential future outbreaks in animals and humans. Having strong preparedness plans in place is paramount to protect public health in Europe.” “In 2024, avian influenza viruses expanded their reach, infecting previously unaffected species. Our work identifies key mutations linked to a potential spread to humans, requiring rapid detection and response. Collaboration and data sharing along the chain of actors involved remain essential in tackling emerging situations,” said Bernhard Url, EFSA Acting Executive Director.Experts generated a comprehensive list of mutations, from which they identified 34 genetic mutations that might increase the potential of avian influenza viruses to spread to humans. Using molecular analysis and genomic surveillance, animal and public health laboratories can refer to the list of mutations, which should be continuously updated, to monitor the emergence of strains that could potentially transmit to humans. The scientific opinion also identifies how the adaptation of avian influenza viruses to mammals can be driven by factors such as genetic mutations, the mixing of genetic material between viruses, and the interaction with host immune response, alongside extrinsic factors that can increase the chance of transmission to humans, like human activities and environmental changes that increase contact between wildlife, poultry, livestock, and humans. High-density farming, low biosecurity practices, deforestation, urbanisation, and global trade amplify the risk of spillovers from animals to humans.Key recommendations:Genetic analysis: Use genetic sequencing to detect mutations or virus adaptations to mammals early. Invest in systems to quickly identify emerging viruses and mutations that enable animal-to-human spread. Animal surveillance: Monitor sick or dead mammals linked to infected wild birds, poultry or mammals. Track unexplained illness during high-risk periods and areas with avian influenza. Public health surveillance: Test exposed individuals and routinely send samples to further identify the flu sub-type. During outbreaks in animals, hospitals should enhance surveillance and vigilance, especially during flu season peaks when the risk of mixing of genetic material between viruses rises. Prevention measures:  Implement robust farm biosecurity measures, train staff, vaccinate poultry, and prepare outbreak response plans. Ensure humans at risk follow influenza vaccination and antiviral treatment guidelines.Public health preparedness measures:  Raise awareness among high-risk groups, the general public and train healthcare workers to recognise and manage avian influenza. Ensure coordinated response plans for human cases. Develop guidelines and standard operating procedures for testing of exposed individuals and contacts of patients, including preventive protocols. Ensure coordinated response plans for human cases as part of national prevention, preparedness and response plans.Alongside the scientific opinion, the Agencies also developed a guidance on how to investigate and control outbreaks of avian influenza affecting both humans and animals, using a coordinated One Health approach. Experts developed flowcharts outlining response actions for five outbreak scenarios at the human-animal-environment interface, emphasising the importance of an interdisciplinary response among all stakeholders. This work will support Member States in creating tailored national guidelines. 

Why a toolkit?This toolkit has been developed by EFSA to provide further information on EFSA public consultations and ensure that participation and staying informed is easy and clear.What can I find in the toolkit?The toolkit as been designed to answer frequently asked questions about EFSA public consultations, including how to participate in them and how the process works.In the toolkit you will find information on:EFSA’s work and how you can get involvedWhat are public consultationsBackground information on public consultationsStep by step process of how public consultations work How to participate in a public consultation and provide your input to inform EFSA’s risk assessmentAn overview of the different types of consultationsHow the commenting process works A visual overview of the commenting processInformation on where the consultation outcomes are publishedWhere to find further information and support on public consultationsAn overview of information sources and what type of information can be found at each sourceGuidance on using and navigating Open EFSA, Connect EFSA, the EFSA website and the EFSA JournalWho is the toolkit for?This toolkit can be used by anybody interested contributing to EFSA’s risk assessment by participating in public consultations.

Oceans have long captivated our imagination. Think of swashbuckling pirates or bold explorers seeking far off lands. Today the oceans represent a new frontier. Beneath the seafloor lie precious minerals that could drive technological innovation. Ocean aquaculture could address sustainability issues from farming on land. Climate change is opening new sea routes for trade. But what are the risks for food safety? How could changing uses of the oceans affect our food supply? Join us as we explore the ocean deep! 

Situation in EuropeAlthough the overall number of avian influenza cases remains low compared to previous years, the last quarter of the year saw an increase in cases in wild and domestic birds compared to the previous quarter. Most of the detections in both wild and domestic birds were found in South-Central Europe, mainly in areas with a high concentration of poultry farms. Our experts concluded that the large number of farms in these areas and the type of poultry production contributed to disease spread between farms. A(H5N5) virus, a subtype of the avian influenza virus which causes mass mortality in wild birds, has significantly expanded its geographical and species range, spreading widely in different regions and wild bird species. However, no new cases have been reported in mammals.According to ECDC, the risk of infection is currently low for the general public in Europe, and low to medium for people working with or exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments.Situation in the USOutside of Europe, the US is seeing a significant surge in cases among cattle, with more than 800 establishments affected in 16 states. Most of the cases are reported in California where the virus was also recently found in two batches of raw milk sold in retail shops.  Additionally, A (H5N1) virus strain, which is different from the one affecting cattle, was detected for the first time in pigs in Oregon in a mixed livestock-poultry farm. This is of concern given the potential for pigs to be co-infected by different types of influenza viruses that could adapt and spread to other species. 

Como parte de la revisión, los expertos han actualizado la ingesta diaria tolerable Estimación de la cantidad de una sustancia presente en los alimentos o el agua potable que no se ha añadido deliberadamente (p. ej. contaminantes) y que puede consumirse durante toda la vida sin que se aprecie un riesgo sobre la salud ( IDT La ingesta diaria tolerable (IDT) es una estimación de la cantidad de una sustancia presente en los alimentos o el agua potable que no se ha añadido deliberadamente (p. ej. contaminantes) y que puede consumirse durante toda la vida sin que se aprecie un riesgo sobre la salud) para el perclorato de 0,3 a 1,4 microgramos por kilogramo de peso corporal por día. Este cambio refleja el uso de un modelo reciente que proporciona una mayor precisión en la evaluación de los efectos de diferentes dosis Cantidad total de una sustancia (p. ej., una sustancia química o un nutriente) que se administra a un organismo individual, población o ecosistema para su consumo o absorción de perclorato en los individuos.La principal preocupación sanitaria asociada al perclorato es su impacto sobre la función tiroidea. Puede inhibir la captación de yodo por la glándula tiroides, que es crucial para la producción de hormonas. En los fetos y los lactantes, las hormonas tiroideas son fundamentales para el crecimiento y el desarrollo normales del sistema nervioso central.Los expertos concluyeron provisionalmente que, con los niveles actuales de exposición Concentración o cantidad de una sustancia concreta que absorbe una persona, población o ecosistema con una frecuencia específica en un periodo determinado de tiempo, no existen riesgos para la salud de la población Comunidad de personas, animales o plantas de la misma especie en general.La consulta durará 8 semanas para permitir la máxima participación de las partes interesadas. La fecha límite para enviar comentarios es el 11 de febrero de 2025.¿Qué es el perclorato y cómo llega a los alimentos?El perclorato es un contaminante Toda sustancia presente en productos alimenticios que no haya sido añadida intencionadamente. Los contaminantes pueden proceder del embalaje, del procesado o del transporte de los alimentos, así como de las prácticas agrícolas o del uso de medicamentos veterinarios. Este término no incluye la contaminación debida a insectos o roedores que se introduce en el medio ambiente a través de prácticas agrícolas, por ejemplo mediante su uso en fertilizantes. También procede de actividades industriales, como la fabricación y el reciclado de fuegos artificiales. Cuando se aplica en los cultivos, especialmente en los de hoja verde como las espinacas y la lechuga, el perclorato puede acumularse en las plantas.Regulación de los niveles de perclorato en los alimentos y el aguaEn 2015, la Comisión Europea emitió una Recomendación para controlar los niveles de perclorato en los alimentos y el agua. Posteriormente, en 2023 se introdujo un Reglamento que establecía niveles máximos de perclorato y otros contaminantes en la cadena alimentaria. Por ejemplo, se fijó un nivel máximo de 0,05 mg/kg de perclorato para la mayoría de las frutas y verduras, y se establecieron niveles más estrictos para los alimentos infantiles y los preparados para lactantes.

La consulta pública está abierta hasta el 9 de febrero 2025 y sigue a una consulta pública previa sobre el proyecto de protocolo sobre el fluoruro realizada en 2022El proyecto propone un nivel de ingesta Cantidad de una sustancia (por ejemplo, un nutriente o una sustancia química) que ingiere una persona o un animal a través de la dieta seguro de 3,3 mg/día para las mujeres embarazadas que se aplica a todos los grupos de edad a partir de los 9 años. Esta cifra se deriva de los posibles efectos en el desarrollo del sistema nervioso central del feto.Nuestros expertos concluyeron provisionalmente que estos efectos empiezan a producirse a niveles iguales o superiores a 1,5 miligramos por litro (mg/l) de agua potable, el límite legal en la Unión Europea. En niveles más bajos de fluoruro, la prueba de posibles vínculos es imprevisible e insuficiente para extraer conclusiones claras. El valor crítico hallado en el agua potable en los países europeos suele ser inferior a 0,3 mg/l.El dictamen también propone niveles máximos de ingesta diaria tolerable Estimación de la cantidad de una sustancia presente en los alimentos o el agua potable que no se ha añadido deliberadamente (p. ej. contaminantes) y que puede consumirse durante toda la vida sin que se aprecie un riesgo sobre la salud para lactantes y niños de corta edad: 1 miligramo al día (mg/día) para lactantes de 0 a 12 meses de edad, 1,6 mg/día para niños de 1 a 3 años de edad, y 2 mg/día para niños de 4 a 8 años de edad. Estos niveles superiores están vinculados a un riesgo de fluorosis dental (decoloración de los dientes) y protegen de todos los demás efectos adversos potenciales para estos grupos de edad.La Comisión Europea nos pidió valorar los riesgos para la salud humana, por lo que la valoración no aborda los beneficios del fluoruro para la salud dental.El Comité Científico de la EFSA examinó unos 20 000 documentos científicos del período 2005-2024 y completó una revisión exhaustiva de los estudios más relevantes, 152 en seres humanos y 81 en animales.Acogemos con satisfacción cualquier comentario que se nos envíe sobre el proyecto de valoración, el enfoque seguido y cualquier información científica adicional que pudiera utilizarse para finalizar la valoración de riesgos, actualmente prevista para 2025.Véase también: para obtener una explicación de la diferencia entre un «nivel de ingesta seguro» y una «ingesta diaria tolerable», véase esta ficha informativa.

The number of reported human cases of listeriosis (2,952) showed a consistent rise over the 2019–2023 period, hitting their highest levels since 2007. This might be linked to Europe’s ageing population — 21.3% of Europeans are now over 65 years old — which, in connection with the growing prevalence of chronic age-related diseases, raises the risk of severe symptoms in older age groups. Contaminated ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, such as cold smoked salmon, meat products and dairy products, are the most common source of infections. The latest data show that the proportion of samples from RTE food categories that exceed food safety contamination limits for Listeria monocytogenes ranged from 0.11% to 0.78%, with the highest level reported for fermented sausages.Campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis were the most frequently reported zoonotic diseases in humans in the EU. In 2023, 148,181 campylobacteriosis cases were reported, marking an increase from 139,225 in 2022.After campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis was the second most reported gastrointestinal infection in humans, with 77,486 cases, compared to 65,478 cases in 2022. Only 15 Member States and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) successfully met all established targets for the reduction of Salmonella in poultry. This represents a decrease compared to 2022, when 19 Member States reached full compliance.»The persistent presence of Salmonella in poultry populations highlights the need for continuous vigilance in combatting foodborne diseases. Enhanced surveillance tools like whole genome sequencing are invaluable in detecting and controlling outbreaks more effectively,» said Frank Verdonck, Head of EFSA’s Biological Hazards & Animal Health and Welfare unit.The report also monitors foodborne outbreaks in the EU, defined as events during which at least two people contract the same illness from the same contaminated food. A total of 5,691 foodborne outbreaks were reported in 2023, registering a slight decrease compared to the previous year. However, the number of human cases, hospitalizations, and deaths increased, with fatalities reaching their highest level in a decade. Salmonella remained the leading cause of foodborne outbreaks, cases, hospitalisations and deaths. The most frequent sources of salmonellosis outbreaks were eggs/egg products, mixed food and broiler meat. The increased use of whole genome sequencing improved the sensitivity of surveillance, enhancing the ability to detect outbreaks in Member States that implemented it.“The rise in severe outcomes from foodborne outbreaks highlights the persistent public health threat posed by Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens. By integrating human, animal, and environmental health through a One Health strategy, we can better prevent the spread of these diseases and protect public health,” said Celine Gossner, Head of ECDC’s Emerging, Food- and Vector Portador de un agente patógeno de una persona infectada a una persona no infectada o a su alimento o entorno; por ejemplo, los mosquitos portadores de parásitos del paludismo-Borne Diseases Section.One Health is a multi-sectoral approach that aims to balance and optimise the health of people, animals, plants and their shared environment, recognising their interconnection. By promoting joint actions, One Health brings together professionals from various disciplines to tackle complex health threats in an integrated manner.EFSA is publishing a plain language summary (PLS) — a simplified version of EFSA’s European Union One Health 2023 Zoonoses Report — along with story maps and dashboards whichallow users to search and visualise data on foodborne outbreaks and 14 zoonotic pathogens. Notably, six story maps and four dashboards are being published for the first time on Echinococcus, Q fever, rabies, Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella, Tularaemia, West Nile virus and Yersinia.