There was an overall increase in reported cases of zoonotic diseases and foodborne illness outbreaks in 2021 compared to 2020, the latest EU One Health 2021 Zoonoses Report revealed. However, cases and outbreaks are still below the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

New EU legislation restricts the amount of green tea extract containing (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that can be present in food and sets labeling requirements, for food safety reasons. EGCG is a catechin, which are flavinols that may lead to liver damage.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published six key recommendations for advancing food safety based on discussions held at the recent ONE—Health, Environment, and Society—Conference.

The European Commission recently amended its regulations on maximum levels for dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in certain foods.

Following food fraud investigations, the European Commission (EC) recently set new limits on certain antioxidants in tuna; specifically, ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, and calcium ascorbate.

By 2030, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and its EU partners aim to implement more comprehensive, harmonized chemical exposure assessments to enhance food and feed risk assessments. 

The European Commission recently updated its regulation on maximum levels for ochratoxin A, a type of mycotoxin, in foods.

The European Commission has recently published revisions to its regulation on the use of ethylene oxide in food additives, setting stricter limits for the substance.

The European Commission has recently updated its import controls regulation to increase checks for aflatoxins, pesticides, and microbiological contaminants.

The EU experienced more food safety notifications through its online Rapid Alert System for Food and Food Network in 2021 than in years prior, with pesticides, food contact materials, and fraud highlighted in a Administrative Assistance and Cooperative Network report.