CHEFS database: smarter food safety monitoring using EU-wide data and AI
The CHEFS (CompreHensive European Food Safety) database is a new open-access tool that brings together more than 392 million food safety test results collected across Europe between 2000 and 2024. It covers chemical contaminants, pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues and antimicrobial resistance in food and feed. All data are harmonised, fully documented and freely available, making CHEFS the most comprehensive food safety dataset ever developed at EU level.
For farmers, food businesses and advisors, CHEFS provides clear insights into which food products, hazards and origins are most frequently associated with food safety risks, and how monitoring has evolved over time. This helps identify where controls are most needed and where resources can be used more efficiently. By focusing monitoring and prevention efforts on high-risk hazard–product combinations, practitioners can reduce unnecessary testing costs while better protecting market access and consumer trust.
Building on CHEFS, the HOLiFOOD project is developing explainable AI models for key supply chains (cereals, lentils and poultry). These models will support early warning of emerging food safety risks by linking them to real drivers such as climate conditions, trade patterns or socio-economic changes. In practice, this means earlier and more targeted decisions, fewer surprises, and more resilient production systems. CHEFS therefore offers concrete opportunities to improve compliance, reduce losses and strengthen the competitiveness of European agri-food chains.
Future-Proofing Food: Transforming Risk Analysis for a better and more adaptive food system
Ongoing | 2022-2026
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Austria, France, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Austria, United Kingdom