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Human food, nutrition, nutritional data, food hygiene, biological risks, physico-chemical risks, food chain, consumption surveillance<BR>Food<BR>> All close-ups<BR>Food news<BR>>> Find out more<BR>>> On line declaration<BR>Highlighted close-ups<BR>> Previous topics<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>Eat fish, why? How?<BR>28 July 2010<BR>Fish has valuable nutritional qualities, however, it is also contaminated by environmental pollutants. <BR>Agency's recommendations for the summer<BR>21 June 2010<BR>Summertime, which is synonymous with sunshine, heat and holidays, is finally drawing near. As part of the French Heat Wave Response Plan, AFSSA is issuing some microbiological and nutritional recommendations. Below you will find an overview of these recommendations, plus some useful precautions to help you enjoy a safe, carefree summer.<BR>Be wary of so-called 'anti-hangover' drinks<BR>16 june 2010<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>News update on the quality of tap water <BR>18 May 2010<BR><BR>Water safety is strictly controlled from the source (river or ground water) to the consumer's tap. More than sixty quality criteria (including pesticide and nitrate levels) must be adhered to. AFSSA's work is part of an overall system and contributes to meeting high quality standards for water intended for human consumption.<BR>Feeding honey to infants under one year inadvisable <BR>14 May 2010<BR>Infant botulism is rare in France, and occurs in infants under one year of age. Honey consumption is one of the risk factors of the illness. Alerted by the InVS of a rise in the number of cases since 2004, AFSSA suggests, in keeping with WHO recommendations, that people avoid feeding honey to children under one year of age. <BR>The French Observatory of Food Quality (OQALI) presents a detailed review of the nutritional quality of processed foods<BR>4 May 2010<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 prospects for the future. <BR>AFSSA assesses consumer exposure to bisphenol A in France<BR>27 April 2010<BR>Following the Opinion of 29 January 2010, Marc Mortureux, Director General of AFSSA, reviews the work undertaken by the Agency and provides some initial estimates on consumer exposure to bisphenol A in France. <BR>AFSSA establishes critical blood concentration levels for PCBs<BR>8 April 2010<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>Bisphenol A: AFSSA provides further information on the critical exposure period <BR>23 March 2010<BR>Following its Opinion of 29 January 2010, AFSSA provides further details regarding the critical period of exposure to bisphenol A and recalls the importance of stringent risk assessment of all products being considered as replacements for bisphenol A.<BR>Simple hygiene measures can prevent food risks related to Campylobacters<BR>18 March 2010<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>Re-evaluation of French population reference intakes (ANC) for lipids: neither to low nor too high<BR>16 March 2010<BR>The ANCs (French population reference intakes) for various types of fatty acids have been established in order to cover the physiological needs of the body as well as to prevent certain illnesses. Certain lipids (fats and oils) can have beneficial effects on health provided they are taken from a variety of different plant- and animal-based sources so as to maintain a balance in fatty acid intake. In addition to avoiding excess caloric intake, AFSSA also recommends that the amount of lipids consumed fall within the range of 35 to 40%.<BR>Water treatment: guidelines for the assessment of ion exchangers <BR>9 February 2010<BR>Ion-exchange resins have been used for many years in water treatment. Since its inception, AFSSA has been in charge of the assessment of marketing authorisation applications for these products. It has drafted specific guidelines for the European context which are revised to keep up with scientific advances and to constantly improve the assessment process. <BR>Bisphenol A: AFSSA recommends the development of new assessment methods<BR>5 February 2010<BR>The existence of new studies on BPA prompted AFSSA to file an internal request in October 2009. The results of this appraisal have been published in a new Opinion.<BR>New surveillance methods for lipophilic marine biotoxins<BR>11 January 2010<BR>In preparation for replacement of the mouse bioassay by chemical tests within the framework of EU regulations, AFSSA has acquired the necessary tools for detecting, identifying and measuring all regulated lipophilic toxins in shellfish as of January 2010. The methods used are stringent and validated. <BR>The agency is also actively involved in the implementation of a safeguard plan, as found in its opinion of 4 December 2009, which will make it possible to anticipate the consequences of atypical toxicities that would not be fully assessed using regulatory monitoring. <BR>Launch of a national vigilance plan for food supplements<BR>20 november 2009<BR>Following the launch on 29 October of a national vigilance plan for food supplements, here is a review of the objectives and procedure of the plan established by the French Act on Hospitals, Patients, Health and Territories of July 2009.<BR>Pine nuts called into question <BR>1 October 2009<BR>In France over the last few months, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), as well as poison and toxicovigilance centres have been receiving reports from consumers who have noted a transient bitter aftertaste following consumption of pine nuts.<BR>>> Find out more<BR>PCB<BR>> Our close-up<BR>Chlordecone<BR>> Our close-up<BR>Lipids<BR>> Our close-up<BR>Nanotechnologie<BR>> Nanotechnologie et nanoparticules<BR>> Eaux et nanoparticules<BR>Food supplements<BR>> Our close-up<BR>Home,Anses,News,Press room,Agenda,Our thems,Food,Animal health and nutrition,Environmental health,Occupational health,Plants,Opinions and publications,Last opinions and reports,Food opinions and reports,Animal health and nutrition opinions and reports,Environmental and occupational health opinions and reports,Plants opinions,Bulletins and periodicals,Other publications,Research and reference,Research program,Laboratories and reference activities, + ,Job opportunities,Public procurement contracts,Our websites,Extranet / ExpertNet,Legal notice,Contact, ,<BR>News brief<BR>> Compléments alimentaires <BR>Prudence : un nouveau cas de confusion entre le complément alimentaire Préservision® et le médicament Préviscan® <BR>> Professionals : information and exchange module<BR>Topic: health control methods for foodstuffs and processes<BR>>Find out more (French)<BR>Consumer close-ups<BR>Useful information<BR>Find out more about food, etc.<A HREF='PN30I0.htm'>Human food</A>
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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.
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