<BODY>
Human food, nutrition, nutritional data, food hygiene, biological risks, physico-chemical risks, food chain, consumption surveillance<BR>"Anti-hangover" drink: no scientific basis for alleged claims <BR>1 February 2011<BR>1 October 2009<BR>1 september 2011<BR>10 February 2011<BR>10 January 2010<BR>10 June 2011<BR>11 January 2010<BR>11 January 2011<BR>12 July 2011<BR>12 May 2011<BR>12 September 2011<BR>14 May 2010<BR>15 March 2011<BR>16 june 2010<BR>16 June 2011<BR>16 March 2010<BR>16 November 2011<BR>18 March 2010<BR>18 May 2010<BR>19 January 2012<BR>21 June 2010<BR>21 October 2010<BR>22 octobre 2009<BR>23 March 2010<BR>24 September 2010<BR>25 November 2010<BR>26 May 2011<BR>27 April 2010<BR>27 septembre 2011<BR>28 July 2010<BR>29 June 2011<BR>30 June 2011<BR>4 May 2010<BR>5 February 2010<BR>5 May 2011<BR>8 April 2010<BR>8 June 2011<BR>9 December 2010<BR>> All close-ups<BR>> Compléments alimentaires <BR>> Consultation of the reports<BR>> Our close-up<BR>> Previous topics<BR>> Professionals : information and exchange module<BR>>> Find out more<BR>>> On line declaration<BR>>Find out more (French)<BR>A new health & safety scheme for nutritional vigilance<BR>A so-called ‘anti-hangover’ drink will be placed on the market in France over the next few days. It claims to reduce blood alcohol levels. AFSSA stresses that these drinks can give a false sense of security and are likely to lead to uncontrolled alcohol consumption, particularly before driving.<BR>AFSSA assesses consumer exposure to bisphenol A in France<BR>AFSSA establishes critical blood concentration levels for PCBs<BR>AFSSA has issued over twenty opinions to evaluate PCB risks and to recommend measures for reducing consumer exposure levels. In its latest opinion, issued today, it sets the critical PCB impregnation levels for populations exposed to PCBs and recommends regulatory changes in order to account for total PCBs. <BR>After examining two new studies of the possible health effects of aspartame, the Agency confirms, in an Opinion published today, that there is no sufficient scientific basis for a toxicological re-evaluation, but indicates that it wishes to broaden the study. ANSES will therefore be setting up a working group to assess the nutritional benefits and risks of intense sweeteners and the need to draw up recommendations for any vulnerable population groups identified in the course of its work.<BR>Agency's recommendations for the summer<BR>Agency's role is to assess food-related health risks and safety issues through its research in the areas of food consumption behaviour, biological risks, food hygiene and storage, food additives and flavourings, residues in food and water and food and food-related allergies.<BR>An abnormal increase in cases of haemorrhagic diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) has been observed in Germany and in certain other European countries. A foodborne bacterium could be the source of these cases. ANSES provides an update below on the current state of knowledge regarding these bacteria and the general precautions to be taken.<BR>ANSES assesses the nutritional benefits and risks of intense sweeteners<BR>ANSES today launched a nutritional vigilance scheme for novel foods, fortified foods, food supplements and foodstuffs intended for specific diets. The scheme will enable authorities to identify possible adverse effects related to their consumption and to undertake targeted expert appraisals. The review of the pilot phase launched in 2009 on food supplements confirmed that the vigilance scheme did indeed improve consumer protection.<BR>ANSES today published an expert report on the assessment of risks related to dietary weight-loss practices. This report, which falls within the scope of the "body image" topic organised by the French National Health and Nutrition Programme, will be submitted to stakeholders for consultation, in order to draw up recommendations in an opinion to be published in early 2011. <BR>ANSES today published two reports on the uses of bisphenol A and the health risks involved. This work highlights health effects that have been proven in animals and suspected in humans, even at low levels of exposure. This work is one step in a continuing risk assessment process. The Agency considers, however, that it now has enough scientific evidence to be able to identify that the priority should be to prevent the exposure of the most susceptible populations, which mainly entails the substitution of bisphenol A. In this context, the Agency is submitting the findings of its work for consultation and is issuing a call for contributions in order to collect any scientific data on alternatives and their safety. <BR>ANSES, asked by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) to assess a claim that a beverage marketed in France can lower blood alcohol levels, considers the claim to be scientifically unfounded and therefore unacceptable.<BR>ANSES, asked by the Ministry of Health to provide a review of the presence of drug residues in water for human consumption, today publishes the results of an initial national analysis campaign.<BR>As part of the investigations it has been pursuing since 2002 into the dietary risk associated with chlordecone, ANSES has especially been examining the dietary exposure of young children in Guadeloupe during their dietary diversification phase. The results of this study, which are published today, show that long-term exposure does not exceed tolerable toxicity thresholds. Regarding short-term exposure, the Agency's study emphasises the importance of respecting ministerial Orders governing marketing authorisations for foods.<BR>As part of the revision of the regulations on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), the European Commission is proposing a relaxation of the rules banning processed animal proteins (PAPs) in the feed of certain productive livestock. Following a request by the French Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Consumer Affairs, the Agency has today published an Opinion concluding that the conditions for safe use of processed animal proteins have not, to date, been fully satisfied, although it notes the progress made in organisation of the industries. <BR>Aspartame: an update on the ANSES investigation<BR>Au 1er septembre 2008, une nouvelle réglementation européenne relative aux limites maximales de résidus (LMR) de pesticides dans les denrées est entrée en vigueur. A la demande de la Direction Générale de la Santé, l'Afssa a réalisé une comparaison des anciennes LMR nationales et des nouvelles LMR harmonisées au regard du niveau de protection du consommateur français. Ce travail permet de conclure que le niveau global de protection du consommateur conféré par l'application de cette nouvelle réglementation est équivalent à celui que fournissait l'application de la réglementation nationale. <BR>Be wary of so-called 'anti-hangover' drinks<BR>Bisphenol A<BR>Bisphenol A: AFSSA provides further information on the critical exposure period <BR>Bisphenol A: AFSSA recommends the development of new assessment methods<BR>Bisphenol A: ANSES issues a call for contributions on substitute products to reduce exposure of the most susceptible populations <BR>Campylobacters are bacteria found in the digestive tracts of animals, in particular poultry. They are considered to be one of the main causes of gastroenteritis in industrialised countries. AFSSA has reminded the public of a few simple hygiene measures which can prevent this infection.<BR>Chlordecone: ANSES assesses the dietary exposure of young children in Guadeloupe<BR>Commissioned by the French Ministry of Health to prepare an initial national status report on the presence of perfluorinated compounds in water, ANSES, through its Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, has now published its results.<BR>Consumer close-ups<BR>Cranberry and urinary tract infections: state of scientific knowledge<BR>Created in February 2008 as part of the National Nutrition and Health Programme (PNNS), the French Observatory of Food Quality is implemented jointly by INRA and AFSSA. It is a complementary tool that is well-integrated into the Agency's food-based activities. During a seminar held today, the Observatory gave an initial overview of its work and discussed p<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'>Human food</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'>View nutrition</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'>More infos on nutritional data</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'>View food hygiene</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'> biological risks</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'> physico-chemical risks</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'> food chain</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'>Go to consumption surveillance</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'>Go to Anses</A>
<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'> alimentation</A>
</BODY>
Agency's role is to assess food-related health risks and safety issues through its research in the areas of food consumption behaviour, biological risks, food hygiene and storage, food additives and flavourings, residues in food and water and food and food-related allergies.
Nutrinet : Etude de grande ampleur sur les relations entre nutrition et santé, réalisée sur Internet. Pour en savoir plus : www.etude-nutrinet-sante.fr
Anses
Opinions and publications