The Story of the Food Safety Almanac

In 2009, a powerful idea took shape at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). A guide has been created to help people understand how food and feed safety works across Europe. This guide was called the EU Food Safety Almanac. Published in both English and German, it provided a clear overview of the public authorities responsible for food safety in each EU country. It was designed to help experts, government officials, journalists, scientists, and industry professionals find trusted partners and learn more about food safety systems.

The Almanac quickly became popular. Because of this, more editions followed in 2011 and 2014. As interest grew, even more brochures were released in 2017. But the Almanac’s story didn’t stop at the EU’s borders.

To support food safety in neighbouring countries, a special edition was published for nations involved in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). This version included countries like Ukraine, Georgia, Israel, and others, showing the EU’s strong ties with its neighbours and its commitment to protecting consumers everywhere.

Another unique version was made for the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). This edition, in both Portuguese and English, featured countries such as Brazil, Mozambique, Portugal, and others, helping bring together Portuguese-speaking nations in a shared mission for safe food.

In 2017, the fourth edition of the EU Food Safety Almanac was released in six different languages, reaching an even wider audience around the world. By 2021, a new and updated version was published. Then, in 2022, the Almanac took a major leap forward — it went online and became the World Food Safety Almanac, offering up-to-date, accessible information to anyone, anywhere.

None of this would have been possible without the support of many dedicated people — especially the EFSA Focal Points in the EU countries and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) itself. Their teamwork made the Almanac a reliable and respected source of knowledge in the world of food safety.

Today, both digital and printed versions of the Almanac continue to serve as a vital bridge between nations, scientists, and safety experts — all working together to protect what we all depend on: safe food.

Printed versions
Below, please find the digital version of the latest printed edition of the EU Food Safety Almanac, published in 2021, as well as the brochure editions published in 2017. Please note that the content of these brochures reflects the state of knowledge and institutional structures at the time of publication and may no longer be up to date.