What’s on the menu in Europe?

Os membros do Fórum Consultivo da EFSA, que reúne as autoridades nacionais de segurança alimentar dos 27 Estados-membros da UE, confirmaram hoje, o seu forte apoio à criação do primeiro inquérito alimentar pan-europeu, denominado "What's on the Menu in Europe? (EUMENU)" – “O que está no Menu na Europa? (EUMENU)”, encontrando-se o seu planeamento e coordenação inteiramente a cargo da EFSA. A importância deste estudo passa pela utilização de metodologia própria, que fornecerá informações preciosas, detalhadas e comparáveis as quais, constituirão uma ferramenta essencial para a avaliação do risco, com a representação de todos os países e regiões da UE. A recolha dos dados, relativos ao consumo alimentar, está planeada realizar-se num programa contínuo que decorrerá entre 2012 e 2017, com uma fase de preparação que ocorrerá entre 2010-2011. Será dada uma atenção especial para assegurar uma elevada taxa de participação dos países, de modo que a informação recolhida seja representativa.
Esta proposta foi apresentada e discutida inicialmente na reunião do Fórum Consultivo em Atenas, ocorrida em 25 de Novembro de 2009, tendo sido eleita como um projecto de prioridade para a cooperação científica entre os Estados-Membros e a EFSA.

FSA and national food safety agencies back plans for pan-European food consumption survey

Are intakes of food additives safe for all population groups? Are fat intake levels going down in the EU? Are consumers exposed through their diet to high levels of heavy metals such as cadmium? Who is most at risk of deficiencies in nutrients such as iron or folic acid? Which foods contribute most to Salmonella infections in humans?

These are some of the many questions that risk assessors at EFSA and in Member States address in their work every day. Access to reliable and comparable information and data on food consumption is critical in providing answers both to possible food safety and nutritional concerns.

When a new hazard is found in the food chain – for instance the recent cases of melamine found in various foods or dioxin contamination of pork – scientists must quickly assess who is exposed, through which foods and at what levels. This in order to provide a rapid and reliable risk assessment and to help risk managers take appropriate action to protect consumers.

In the area of nutrition, the analysis of dietary intake data is essential to help set science-based public health targets, to assess how dietary intakes compare with recommended intake levels and to monitor progress over time.

Today, scientists in Member States and at EFSA rely on food consumption data collected at national level. Progress has been made in recent years, spearheaded by EFSA and the Advisory Forum, to bring together such data in order to allow more efficient and accurate exposure assessment at EU level. Nevertheless, important differences in food consumption data collection remain and hamper the effective use of such data for risk assessment at EU level.

Members of EFSA’s Advisory Forum, bringing together national food safety agencies from the 27 EU Member States, confirmed today their strong support for the establishment of a pan-European food consumption survey (EU Menu). This critical tool and building block for risk assessment will allow the collection of detailed and harmonised food consumption data at the level of individuals, across the EU. First discussed at the Advisory Forum meeting in Athens on 25 November 2009, members today endorsed this project as a priority for scientific co-operation between Member States and EFSA.

• Full text of the declaration signed by all members of the Advisory Forum

This press release is also available in Spanish

• ¿Cuál es el menú de los europeos? (19 KB)

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