Fipronil scandal: experts for better crisis communication

The federal office for consumer protection and food safety (bvl) and the federal institute for risk assessment (bfr) are not yet optimally complementing each other’s competencies, said jutta jaksche, food policy advisor at the federal association, to the german press agency. "The federal ministry of food and agriculture had to create the legal basis for a more effective cooperation between the two federal institutions."

The insecticide fipronil, which must not be used on food-producing animals, had been added to a cleaning product and sold to chicken farmers. It was absorbed by the animals and thus also found its way into eggs and chicken meat. Eggs contaminated with the insecticide were found in more and more countries after initial evidence in the netherlands. German companies were also affected. Some discounters temporarily removed all eggs from their assortment. The federal institute for risk assessment (bfr) considered a health hazard to be unlikely.