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- Ελληνικά
From the "#EUChooseSafeFood" campaign to "Safe2Eat": The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and its partners in the European Union (EU) Member States return with renewed commitment and broader participation across Europe, enabling consumers to make food choices with confidence and certainty
Following the success of the last three years, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and its partners in EU Member States are back, this year with the #Safe2EatEU campaign. The campaign, formerly known as #EUChooseSafeFood, returns under a new name and with a renewed commitment to raise awareness of food safety among European citizens.
This year the campaign expands its reach with 18 countries joining forces to help consumers make informed decisions when choosing their food. The participating countries for 2024 are Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Estonia, Estonia, Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Cyprus, Latvia, Cyprus, Slovenia, Spain, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Ireland and North Macedonia.
EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Ms Stella Kyriakidou, welcoming the launch of the #Safe2EatEU campaign in Cyprus for the third year, said: "Informed citizens are stronger consumers. And European citizens are among the best protected and informed globally on issues related to the food they consume. I welcome the launch of the #Safe2EatEU campaign in Cyprus, which is participating in this pan-European campaign for the third consecutive year. The campaign will further strengthen the information and awareness-raising efforts of previous years, so that European citizens make well-informed choices when it comes to food, with confidence and trust in its safety and quality. The European Commission, always with the protection of consumer health as a priority, will continue to ensure the highest standards of food safety and quality across the EU and to contribute actively at international level in this area."
The Minister of Health, Mr. Michael Damianos welcomed the launch of the #Safe2Eat campaign, underlining the importance that the State attaches to the prevention and protection of citizens' health.
"I welcome the launch of the #Safe2EatEU information campaign, which is taking place in our country for the third consecutive year, contributing significantly to both proper information and strengthening the general perception of consumers on food safety issues. I invite everyone to embrace the campaign, which also aims to strengthen citizens' sense of confidence when choosing their food. Preventing and protecting citizens' health is a priority for the State. The competent Food Safety Services of the Republic of Cyprus, in cooperation with the competent authorities of the European Union, are constantly alert to ensure the quality and safety of the food that reaches the consumer's plate. The Ministry of Health, through the official food quality and safety control programmes carried out by the Health Services and the General State Laboratory, aims to prevent and protect public health. I would like to express my thanks to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for its cooperation and support for this campaign, which is being run alongside Cyprus in 17 other EU Member States."
Empowering consumers to make confident choices
A survey conducted by EFSA, in collaboration with IPSOS in 2023, showed that almost 70% of Europeans express an interest in food safety. However, around 60% consider that the information provided on food safety is too technical and difficult to understand. In response, this new campaign aims to communicate the science behind food safety in a clear, accurate, yet reassuring and understandable way. The aim is to empower citizens to make informed decisions about their food consumption, ensuring their safety and health in their everyday choices.
Under the slogan #Safe2EatEU, the campaign continues to focus on informing and educating citizens about various aspects of food safety. These include foodborne diseases, proper food handling techniques, the importance of reading food labels (for example, their use-by date) and promoting food waste reduction practices.
The campaign also highlights the importance of a balanced diet, the safety of food supplements and the need to scientifically prove health claims made on food products. It also seeks to raise awareness about the safety of food contact materials and articles, food additives and novel foods, and the presence of food allergens.
"Across Europe, every day consumers choose what to buy and what to eat, taking into account various factors such as cost, taste, sustainability and the origin of food. Thanks to the high food safety standards in the EU, they can be confident that, whatever their choices, the food they buy and eat is safe. The #Safe2EatEU campaign aims to connect food safety science with the food we enjoy on our plates, enabling citizens to make food decisions with confidence," said EFSA Executive Director Dr Bernhard Url.
For more information
Following the launch of the 2024 campaign, initiatives will be presented both at EU and national level in the 18 participating countries. Citizens are encouraged to visit the website for comprehensive information on food safety issues and to download the campaign toolkit, where they will find information resources available in different languages.
About EFSA
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is an EU agency established in 2002 to act as an impartial source of scientific advice for risk managers and to provide information on risks associated with the food chain.
It works with stakeholders to promote the consistency of EU scientific advice and provides the scientific basis for legislation and regulation to protect European consumers from food-related risks from production to consumption.
Contact
For media enquiries, interested parties can contact Press@efsa.europa.eu or +39 0521 036 14.
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