Science on the Menu: A Food Safety Podcast by EFSA

Our wellbeing depends on the health of animals, plants and our environment. What affects one affects all the others, and increasingly so. A One Health perspective is about joining forces to find integrated solutions to common challenges such as climate change and antibiotic resistance. Join us for part II of o joint podcast episode on One Health with four other EU scientific agencies. Whether it's...

Our wellbeing depends on the health of animals, plants and our environment. What affects one affects all the others, and increasingly so. A One Health perspective is about joining forces to find integrated solutions to common challenges such as climate change and antibiotic resistance. Join us to hear from experts at five EU scientific agencies about how we can put One Health into practice. Whethe...

Animal testing has helped keep us safe for over 60 years since it was first introduced. But recent advances in data modelling now offer a better and more ethical alternative. Tune in to find out more! Join us on a journey that starts with a tragic incident resulting in birth defects, to laws requiring animal tests on new substances, to a glimpse of a future without animal testing. Your opinion mat...

Invasive alien species can cause serious problems when they enter new territories, for example as pests in agriculture and forestry. In this episode, we shine a spotlight on our work on plant health and the risks posed by these unwelcome guests. Join our scientific experts Agata Kaczmarek and Sara Tramontini, and communications expert Irene Zanetti, as we explore the stealthy invaders that can inf...

Contaminants can enter our food through various pathways, including cooking and processing methods, pollution from human activities and naturally occurring sources. At EFSA we assess the risk posed by all these types of contaminants and give recommendations to policy makers or consumers on how to reduce risks. In this episode our expert, Mary Gilsenan, guides us through these considerations togeth...

Our food and drinks encounter all kinds of materials – plastic, metal, glass, and ceramics to name a few. But what are the health risks? And faced with the growing problem of plastic pollution, how is food packaging changing? Tune in to find out more! We’ll take you on a journey from plastic to metal to bamboo, from recycling to new intelligent materials. Grab your reusable drinking bottle and joi...

Ever wondered what a lab-grown steak tastes like? Or how to grow one? Listen in to find out! From cultivated chicken nuggets to cell-based beef burgers, food derived from cell culture has been making headlines around the world. We look at the motivations behind it, the challenges that producers face and whether it could ever become an alternative to traditional meat. Our expert Wolfgang Gelbmann e...

What happens to us when we get dehydrated? How can we prevent it? It’s not just about drinking water. Listen in to find out! We also look at how elite sportspeople maintain optimum performance and why older adults and parents should pay particular attention to hydration. Our expert, Silvia Valtueña, gives us her tips and talks us through EFSA’s scientific conclusions on daily water intake. Grab yo...

Harmless to humans, but deadly to pigs and wild boars, African swine fever (ASF) is a viral disease for which there are neither vaccines nor cures. In recent years it has spread across Europe and worldwide, causing serious socio-economic consequences in the affected regions. Join us for this episode of Science on the Menu, in which our expert Lina Mur explains the state of play. Your opinion matte...

Most of us will be familiar with the impact climate change has on the environment – biodiversity loss, rising sea levels, higher temperatures and much more. But it also has direct and indirect effects on the safety of our food and this is something that EFSA has to take into account when assessing risks to human, animal and plant health. Join us as we talk to one of our experts, Angelo Maggiore, a...

Antibiotics are nowadays very important. They protect human and animals from a wide range of infections, but this precious resource is to be used with care. A growing number of bacteria are able to survive or multiply in the presence of antibiotics, some of them widely used to treat common diseases that, only one century ago, could be lethal. Join us for this episode of Science on the Menu, in whi...

The situation regarding avian influenza continues to evolve in Europe and globally, with new outbreaks reported in birds, occasional infections in mammals and sporadic cases in humans. Join us for this episode of Science on the Menu, in which our expert Francesca Baldinelli explains the state of play. Your opinion matters! Please take this brief survey to share your thoughts on our podcast.

Animal welfare affects us all. Did you know your health is directly linked to the well-being of animals? Listen in to find out why! Welfare is not only an ethical issue, it's a scientific one. Our scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are investigating the latest scientific evidence on how animals experience their surroundings. Our expert, Sean Ashe, walks us through EFSA's most...

What’s your idea of a tasty snack? Fruit, biscuits, bread and jam perhaps? What would you say if you were offered something more adventurous – fried crickets or grasshoppers? Popular in some countries such as Thailand and Mexico, they are often eaten with chili and lime. In Europe, reactions are mixed! Our expert Ermolaos Ververis explains how EFSA’s novel foods team assesses whether foods such as...

Are you looking forward to the holiday season to savour the finest traditional dishes with your friends and loved ones? The second episode of our podcast “Science on the menu” is the perfect soundtrack. Valentina Rizzi, Head of EFSA’s Biological Monitoring team, walks us through the risks linked to food contamination and the rules we should follow to make sure the food we prepare and eat is safe....

What is your first concern regarding food? Does food safety cross your mind when you think about what to eat? For close to half Europeans it is the case, as EFSA social scientist Domagoj Vrbos explains to us. Come and sit at our table in this first episode of “Science on the menu”, in which we will talk you through the insights of the latest Eurobarometer, unveiling EU citizens’ perception about f...

Should you wash fruit even if you don't eat the peel? Would you dare try cricket based hamburgers? Do you trust the food you eat? If you would like to learn more about the science behind safe food, welcome to Science on the Menu, a podcast produced by EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority.