prion
An infectious agent, prions are abnormal proteins that can be transferred between species attacking cellular proteins found mostly in the brain
A prion is an abnormal form of a naturally occurring protein that can cause serious and fatal neurodegenerative diseases, known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions contain no DNA or RNA and are unusually resistant to heat, chemicals, and many standard food-processing methods. Examples include the agent responsible for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans.
EFSA assesses how prion diseases can spread through the food and feed chain. This includes identifying high-risk animal tissues (specified risk materials such as brain and spinal cord), assessing the effectiveness of control and inactivation measures, and evaluating surveillance data on TSE occurrence in animals. EFSA’s scientific advice supports EU policies on feed bans, slaughterhouse controls, removal of risk materials, and monitoring programmes. Through this work, EFSA helps ensure that food of animal origin is safe and that the risk of prion transmission to humans remains extremely low.