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Food and nutrition

Food is central to our daily lives. When it is safe and nutritious, it is a powerful ally for our health. However, an imbalanced diet or contaminated food can expose us to immediate risks or chronic diseases. ANSES provides scientific expertise at all stages of the food chain, from the production of foods of animal or plant origin through to the consumer's plate. It assesses the risks associated with the contamination of food by pathogens and toxic substances. It also assesses nutritional quality, and the risks of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour.

News

11/07/2025
Expert assessment

Ciguatera in the French Caribbean: more information needed on the fish species that can cause this poisoning

Ciguatera is a type of food poisoning due to consumption of tropical fish contaminated with marine toxins known as ciguatoxins. It causes...
08/07/2025
Expert assessment

Strengthening the surveillance of tick-borne encephalitis to improve disease prevention

Tick-borne encephalitis is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by certain ticks. It is of growing concern in France. Since 2020, cases...
29/04/2024
News

Breast milk: nutritional benefits and health issues

ANSES has carried out two specific expert appraisals on breast milk, to follow on from its study on dietary exposure of non-breastfed children...
31/08/2021
News

The mushroom-picking season has come early this year: take care to avoid the risk of poisoning

The weather conditions in July and August this year have favoured early foraging for wild mushrooms. Many cases of poisoning due to consumption...
23/10/2020
News

Beware of poisoning when foraging for wild mushrooms!

Since the start of the mushroom-picking season, poison control centres have recorded a sharp increase in cases of poisoning associated with the...

Decryption

19/11/2025

The Ciqual nutritional composition table

The French reference database on the nutritional composition of foods is managed by ANSES. This resource, known as the Ciqual composition table, is made available free of charge on the Ciqual website…
27/10/2025

Salmonellosis and how you can prevent it

Infections by Salmonella bacteria are the second most common cause of foodborne illnesses in Europe. Salmonella infections cause occasionally acute gastroenteritis, but can be more severe in certain…
29/09/2025

Microwave ovens and chemicals in food packaging

The food industry currently offers a wide range of food products designed for quick reheating in the microwave oven. In partnership with the French National Consumers Institute (INC), ANSES has…
03/09/2025

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of essential fatty acids. They include essential fatty acids that are: necessary for the development and proper functioning of the human body, but that cannotunable to…
20/08/2025

Zoonoses, when animals contaminate humans

A zoonosis is a disease whose pathogen (bacterium, virus or parasite) can be transmitted from animals to humans, or vice versa. Several ANSES laboratories are developing research on this subject. They…
20/08/2025

Listeriosis and how you can prevent it

Listeriosis is a foodborne infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Cases of listeriosis are rare in France but when they occur, they are severe. What foods are involved? What are the…
20/08/2025

Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is usually a benign disease, but can sometimes lead to serious complications that may be fatal (particularly in susceptible populations, such as pregnant women or individuals with liver…
20/08/2025

What is botulism and how can you prevent it?

Botulism is a disease caused by the action of a toxin produced by Clostridia bacteria, in particular Clostridium botulinum. Found almost everywhere in the environment, this bacterium is responsible…
20/08/2025

Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infection and how you can prevent it

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium found naturally in the digestive microflora of humans and warm-blooded animals. While most Escherichia coli strains are safe for humans, certain strains such…
20/08/2025

What is histamine and what can be done to prevent poisoning?

Histamine poisoning is one of the main causes of foodborne illness related to fish consumption. However, this poisoning can be avoided by observing hygiene rules, particularly regarding the cold chain…
18/08/2025

How to avoid food poisoning from norovirus

In France, noroviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups. In this article, we take a look at the source of these viruses and how they are transmitted.
18/08/2025

What are the risks of food poisoning and how can they be prevented?

All of the food we eat can be a source of contamination. It can cause poisoning through the transmission of bacteria, parasites or viruses of animal or plant origin. Although it is most often benign…

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