Glossary
This multilingual glossary provides easy-to-understand definitions for the main scientific terms used on this website in the risk assessment domain. Terms and their definitions are referenced in our communication products as pop-up notes to explain concepts to the public with no specialist knowledge.
Standard English spelling is used throughout. Acronyms are capitalised. Terms are presented in lower case. Entries are translated into all 24 EU official languages.
The glossary is a living document subject to regular updates. Relevant missing terms may be suggested by using the Ask A Question online form.
Disclaimer: Definitions in the glossary are intended solely to help this website's users understand scientific terminology. Definitions may differ from those given in European Union legislation and in the EFSA Journal.
M
A calorie-containing component of food (e.g. fat, protein, carbohydrate) which is needed in significant quantities for normal growth, development and maintenance of health
A tool used in risk assessment to explore safety concerns arising from the presence of a potentially toxic substance in food or animal feed
The gap between the actual intake of a substance by a given population and the estimated daily dose over a lifetime that experts consider to be safe
The maximum amount of a contaminant, naturally occurring toxin or nutrient allowed in foods or animal feeds
The maximum amount of a pesticide residue allowed in foods or animal feeds, expressed as milligrams per kilogram
The process by which a substance produces an effect on a living organism
The specific sequence of events explaining how a substance causes a toxic effect
A statistical method which enables the results of similar studies to be pooled in order to determine any significant trends
The total sum of physical and chemical processes that occur within living organisms
Substance formed as a consequence of metabolism in an organism
The study of an organism's metabolic state through the systematic analysis of its metabolites within cells or biological fluids (e.g. blood, urine)
Nutrient required by the body in tiny amounts for normal growth, development and maintenance of health; for example, vitamins and minerals
maximum permitted amount of a substance expressed in mg of substance per kg of food (mg/kg) that can migrate from a food contact material (FCM) into food so as not to pose a health risk
A naturally occurring inorganic element (e.g. calcium, iron) that is needed in the diet for normal growth, development and health
mineral oil hydrocarbon containing one or more aromatic rings
compound of hydrogen and carbon of mineral origin, derived primarily from crude oil, but also from coal, gas and biomass
mineral oil hydrocarbon (MOH) containing only single bonds between carbon atoms
mineral oil hydrocarbon containing one or more aromatic rings
A sequence of events, identified by research, which explains an observed effect
The margin of exposure (MOE) is a tool used in risk assessment to explore safety concerns arising from the presence of a potentially toxic substance in food or animal feed
compound of hydrogen and carbon of mineral origin, derived primarily from crude oil, but also from coal, gas and biomass
A way of identifying specific strains of organisms by looking at their genetic material. Often used to characterise bacteria or viruses
ugljikovodici iz mineralnih ulja s jednostrukom vezom između atoma ugljika
The maximum amount of a pesticide residue allowed in foods or animal feeds, expressed as milligrams per kilogram
The capacity to cause permanent, typically negative, changes to an organism and any offspring by altering the structure of its DNA
A permanent, typically negative, change in the genetic material in a cell which, in most cases, can be passed onto any offspring
Toxin produced by certain species of mould which are dangerous to humans and animals