Safe2Eat: Empowering food safety through open data
How the European Food Safety Authority is helping Europeans make safer, smarter food choices
The European Union’s food industry is a cornerstone of public health and economic stability. As people become increasingly aware of what they eat and how it affects their health, the demand for transparency, scientific integrity, and access to trustworthy information is growing. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) addresses these expectations by openly sharing scientific data to improve food safety, support innovation, and inform EU policies.
The Safe2Eat campaign is EFSA’s initiative to enhance public understanding of food safety and promote best practices in food preparation. After its launch in 2024, the campaign has expanded across 18 EU countries, providing easy-to-understand information on critical topics like foodborne illnesses, contamination prevention, chemical residues, and the importance of food labelling. By making scientific information more accessible, Safe2Eat helps consumers make safe food choices and fosters a more transparent food system.
To assess and manage risks across the EU, EFSA collects harmonised data on food hazards and consumption habits in all Member States. These datasets — covering everything from bacteria and chemical contaminants to dietary patterns — are openly shared on platforms like data.europa.eu. The Safe2Eat campaign leverages these resources, ensuring that both consumers and businesses can access up-to-date, transparent information, thus enhancing public trust and accountability in the food system. This same data also empowers scientists to provide recommendations for the prevention, reduction, and monitoring of hazards throughout the food chain.
Whether you are a curious consumer, a food industry professional, or a policymaker, Safe2Eat offers valuable insights about food safety. Are you interested in more datasets related to food safety? Explore our datasets on data.europa.eu.
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