Introduction

“If you want to go far, go together.” These are the words used by one of our members to describe what happens at ILSI Europe. In today’s increasingly complex food system, no single actor can ensure safety, trust, and sustainability alone. Collaboration is not just valuable — it is essential. Through its tripartite model, ILSI Europe brings together academia, industry, and the public sector to build consensus and deliver science-based guidance on pressing issues in food safety, nutrition, and sustainability — for the benefit of public health.

Grounded in integrity, transparency, and scientific excellence, ILSI Europe’s approach ensures that its outcomes are both credible and relevant to real-world needs. As part of the global ILSI Federation, ILSI Europe contributes to a worldwide effort to translate emerging science into practical solutions. The initiatives featured in this column illustrate how collaboration turns scientific insight into progress — from analytical innovation and risk assessment to advances in nutrition and sustainable materials.

Advancing Food Safety Through Better Analytics

Analytical precision is at the heart of food safety. Reliable measurement methods are critical to detect allergens, contaminants, and other emerging risks that may affect consumer health. To strengthen this foundation, ILSI Europe’s Food Allergen Analytics Task Force (1) has launched a tripartite Expert Group on the harmonisation of analytical methods for detecting food allergens and gluten, including those derived from alternative proteins.

The group will develop a best practice document based on exchanges among experts from the scientific community. Its objectives include establishing method performance criteria and supporting the development of reference and quality control materials. A comprehensive literature review will assess extraction procedures, antibody performance, and sources of inter- and intra-assay variability—critical aspects to reduce discrepancies between laboratories. A dedicated workshop is planned for the first half of 2026 to foster dialogue and ensure that recommendations reflect both scientific rigour and real-world applicability.

Beyond allergens, other potential contaminants such as microplastics raise comparable analytical challenges — from detection limits to data comparability and risk interpretation. To address these, ILSI Europe’s microplastics initiative (2) convenes experts to examine analytical approaches for microplastics in food. A workshop on 21 January 2026 will bring together experts to discuss the current state of the art in microplastic analytics and to identify future research priorities. The discussions will inform a new activity proposal and a subsequent scientific publication. This exclusive workshop will serve as a unique networking opportunity for members of the ILSI Europe Community of Practice on Microplastics (3) committed to advancing analytical standards in food safety.

Managing Food Safety Incidents More Effectively

When unexpected substances appear in food—whether contaminants, residues, or undeclared ingredients—rapid, science-based responses are crucial. ILSI Europe’s Food Contaminants Task Force (4) has commissioned a tripartite Expert Group to develop a practical toolkit for the swift risk assessment and communication of food safety incidents.

The toolkit will integrate scientific guidance and stakeholder experience, offering a systematic approach to exposure evaluation, risk characterization, and uncertainty analysis. While the project focuses on technical assessment and communication, it deliberately excludes regulatory decision-making and enforcement processes to maintain scientific neutrality. By translating complex scientific processes into clear, structured guidance, this initiative aims to strengthen preparedness and coherence in future incident responses across the food chain.

In parallel, the Risk Analysis for Food Safety Task Force (5) is reviewing recent case studies of food safety incidents to understand how risk analysis principles (6) are applied in practice within the EU. Examples include reviews of incidents such as folic acid fortification or fipronil residues in eggs (7). The resulting narrative review will shed light on how scientific evidence, stakeholder communication, and the ‘precautionary principle’ are interpreted and evolve over the timeline of an incident. Learning from these cases could foster discussion on how to assess risks associated with emerging challenges, such as microplastics in food.

Together, these projects underscore ILSI Europe’s commitment to supporting science-based risk management and communication that protect consumers and maintain trust.

Advancing Nutrition Science: Postbiotics for Early Life Nutrition

While food safety science aims to prevent harm, nutrition research seeks to enable health through better dietary choices and understanding of physiological needs. Both rely on rigorous science and stakeholder collaboration. ILSI Europe also advances research exploring how nutrition can optimise health—from the earliest stages of life.

A joint initiative from the Probiotics (8) and Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health (9) Task Forces is bringing together leading scientists from academia and industry to explore the emerging role of postbiotics in infant nutrition. Through a focused, workshop-style dialogue, the group will review the state of science, identify knowledge gaps, and propose future research and regulatory directions. Topics will include safety and efficacy, potential health benefits, and the feasibility of substantiating health claims in the EU context.

Starting with a stakeholder workshop in 2026, this activity will generate practical recommendations to guide innovation and ensure that emerging nutritional approaches for infants are grounded in robust science.

Supporting a Circular Future for Food Packaging

Beyond safety and nutrition, ILSI Europe contributes to sustainability by engaging in collaborative research that promotes responsible innovation. One such initiative is the EU-funded E-OilÉ project (Sustainable End-of-Life Routes for Single-Use Monodose Packaging for Oily Products, 10), which aims to advance biodegradable materials for food and cosmetics packaging.

E-OilÉ supports EU strategies on industrial leadership, climate action, and the circular economy by developing biodegradable polymers to replace conventional plastics such as PP, PE, and PET. These materials are designed for both flexible and semi-rigid packaging applications, maintaining performance while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating microplastic pollution. The project also focuses on ensuring cost-competitiveness with fossil-based plastics to enable wide market adoption.

By participating in projects like E-OilÉ, ILSI Europe demonstrates how its collaborative model extends to sustainability challenges—bridging scientific innovation with tangible environmental and societal benefits.

Conclusion

Across food safety, nutrition, and sustainability, ILSI Europe’s initiatives reflect a single guiding principle: advancing public health through high-quality, collaborative science. Each activity—whether harmonising analytical methods, learning from food safety incidents, advancing postbiotic research, or developing sustainable packaging—illustrates how cooperation among academia, industry, and the public sector delivers solutions that are both scientifically robust and practically relevant.

By fostering transparent dialogue and consensus, ILSI Europe and its members continue to strengthen the scientific foundations of the food system—ensuring it remains safe, nutritious, and sustainable for generations to come.