The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-assessed the potential risks to consumers from fluoride in drinking water, food, fluoridated table salt, and ingested fluoridated dental care products (EFSA Journal. 2025;23:e9478).

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its previous risk assessment of fluoride after recent studies suggested a possible link to harmful effects on the developing nervous system of children. EFSA also looked at the potential effects of fluoride on the thyroid, bones, and teeth.

EFSA set a safe level of intake of 3.3 mg/day for pregnant women and all age groups >8 years of age, derived from potential effects on the developing central nervous system of the fetus by assuming a drinking water concentration of...

The European Commission authorises roasted seeds of Dipteryx alata Vogel (baru), a further traditional food from a third country in July 2025.

The authorisation is based on a technical report of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA; EFSA Supporting publication 2025:EN-9234.).

On 16 June 2025, the European Union published Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1164 amending Annexes II and III of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 as regards maximum residue levels (MRLs) for cyantraniliprole, cyflumetofen, deltamethrin, mefentrifluconazole, mepiquat and oxathiapiprolin in or on certain products.

In February 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its safety assessment of monacolins from red yeast rice, including monacolin K, as part of the Article 8 procedure of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. Monacolins are currently listed in the list of substances whose use is restricted in accordance with Annex III, Part B of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. Following the withdrawal of the health claim for monacolin K by the EU Commission in mid-2024, a complete ban on the use of monacolins from red yeast rice in food is now expected based on EFSA's current safety assessment.

The full article is available in DLR 06/25 (in German only).

In June 2025, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published a revised list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) on PTFE non-stick coatings (FAQ dated 2 June 2025).

The polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which chemically belongs to the group of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), is often used as a coating material for cookware. Its water- and grease-repellent properties prevent food from sticking when heated. According to the BfR, no health risks are to be expected when non-stick coated cookware is used as intended.

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published a revised list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the subject of PET bottles (FAQ dated 28 May 2025). PET is the abbreviation for polyethylene terephthalate, a plastic used to manufacture many beverage bottles and other food packaging.

One of the main concerns among consumers is whether hormone-active substances from PET bottles are transferred into beverages. According to the BfR, a comparison between mineral waters from PET bottles and glass bottles shows no difference in the hormonal effects measured in cell cultures.