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Well wrapped: enjoying food safely and sustainably
02/2020, 14.01.2020
The BfR will be providing information at the International Green Week on the recommended ways to handle food and packaging
How can we protect meat, grain, fruit and vegetables against spoilage? What other food packaging is there besides aluminium foil and plastic? Visitors will find answers to these and other questions at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)'s stand at the International Green Week in Berlin. Under the motto "Enjoying food safely and sustainably", the BfR will be turning the careful and safe handling of food into an interactive experience from 17 to 26 January 2020. "Without caution, bacteria, viruses or parasites in spoiled food can cause diseases", says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "We show how food stays fresh longer and provide information on which materials are best suited for storage, transport and consumption from a health point of view."
Link to IGW-Flyer (in German) “Essen nachhaltig und sicher genießen - So geht’s”
The BfR will be present at the BfR stand 102 on the Event Farm (hall 3.2) during International Green Week with the aim of informing consumers of all ages about sustainable and safe food handling and raising awareness of health risks.
Visitors will learn how sausages, apples and muesli stay fresh as long as possible and are protected from spoilage or pests. There are simple techniques for preserving food, such as freezing or boiling - we will be providing advice on the best ways to do this.
It is often not easy to know when salami or blue cheese, for example, are no longer edible. Does all mouldy food have to be disposed of? What is the difference between the "best before" date and the use-by date? Consumers will get the answers to these questions at the BfR stand.
More and more people are mindful about using packaging and containers that are reusable. On a fact-finding tour, you can find out under what conditions materials, such as aluminium or dishes made of melamine-formaldehyde resin, including "bambooware", may pose a risk to health and what alternatives are available.
Highlights will include a TV chef explaining together with BfR experts in live cooking shows how to handle fruit, vegetables and meat safely, and what you should pay attention to during preparation. There will be playful moments, too: comics will be created during live graphic recording, inspired by visitors' ideas. At the BfR stand, those who are interested can also test their knowledge on the sustainability carousel. In a children's rally, the youngest visitors can go exploring using magic glasses and find out how and where certain food should be stored.
The International Green Week Forum at the CityCube Berlin on the topic "Use plant protection products safely and stay healthy" is taking place on 21 January 2020 from 10 am-12:45 pm - a joint event by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). Experts will give an overview of the current provisions for the protection of user health that have been in force since March 2019 and discuss the challenges of implementation.
About the BfR
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. It advises the German federal government and German federal states ("Laender") on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfR conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.
This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.