New food safety surveillance system launched in Belgium
The Federal Public Service for Public Health has launched a new system for 'nutrivigilance'. This is a surveillance system that maps whether people experience unwanted side effects after consuming certain food products. The goal is to better protect the health of Belgian consumers by intervening more quickly when problems arise.
The system focuses specifically on products that fall outside of normal nutrition, such as food supplements, fortified foods, and products for specific groups such as athletes or people on a diet. When consumers or doctors report unexpected complaints after using these products, this data is collected and analyzed by experts.
In 2025, the system will publish its first key figures and trends. This data is important for understanding which substances or products may pose a risk to public health. Based on this information, the government can decide to introduce stricter rules or better inform consumers about safe use.
With this initiative, Belgium aims to take food safety in our country to a higher level. The system is intended to ensure that dangerous trends in the consumption of supplements are detected in a timely manner. Consumers are encouraged to always contact their general practitioner or the official authorities in case of doubt or complaints.