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Better understanding the potential health effects of ultra-processed foods
Aliments dits ultratransformés : mieux comprendre leurs effets potentiels sur la santé
30/01/2025

Better understanding the potential health effects of ultra-processed foods

‘Ultra-processed’ foods are part of the food supply, but they also raise some health concerns. That being said, the concept of ultra-processing has yet to be scientifically substantiated. In light of this, ANSES has reviewed the available studies on the subject. Its expert appraisal identified several signals suggesting a relationship between the consumption of such foods and a higher risk of developing chronic diseases. Now, the challenge is to identify the mechanisms that underlie these risks. Among the avenues to be explored, the Agency recommends focusing on the effects of new substances that can form during food processing. It also stresses that other courses of action should be considered to improve nutrition in the population.
Women of science: meet our scientists
Femmes de sciences
08/02/2025

Women of science: meet our scientists

11:00 - 17:30
Public : oui
Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, 30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, Paris
ANSES will be at the Cité des sciences for the Women Engineers weekend held in conjunction with this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science. You are invited to meet our team of scientists who study ticks, mosquitos and the microorganisms they can spread to humans and animals alike. The women you will meet are research scientists, engineers and technicians who have developed a method capable of detecting close to 50 different microorganisms at a time. This will certainly help to speed up detection of the pathogens transmitted by these vectors. They will explain their work and in doing so will prove to you that science and innovation have no gender!
Cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany: the ANSES Laboratory for Animal Health ready to take action
Cas de fièvre aphteuse en Allemagne : le Laboratoire de santé animale de l’Anses pleinement mobilisé
27/01/2025

Cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany: the ANSES Laboratory for Animal Health ready to take action

Cases of foot-and-mouth disease were detected on a water buffalo farm in Germany on 10 January. This is the first outbreak in Germany since 1988, and in the European Union since 2011. Although no other cases have been detected so far, ANSES, through its Laboratory for Animal Health, stands ready to take action to prevent the spread of the disease. This article explains its role and missions.
Alert confirmed for glyoxylic acid in hair-straightening products
toxicité acide glyoxylique
23/01/2025

Alert confirmed for glyoxylic acid in hair-straightening products

Glyoxylic acid, a chemical used in hair-straightening products (also known as hair relaxers), can cause acute kidney failure: this was confirmed by ANSES after it examined the available scientific data on its toxicity. The Agency believes that a ruling is needed on restricting or even banning the use of this substance in hair care products. Pending regulatory measures, it recommends avoiding the use of hair-straightening products containing glyoxylic acid. It also urges the companies marketing hair care products containing this substance to re-examine their safety.
Two ANSES doctoral students recognised for presentations of their research work
21/01/2025

Two ANSES doctoral students recognised for presentations of their research work

The "ANSES Scientific and Doctoral Days" are an opportunity for the Agency's scientists to get together and discuss their work. They also enable ANSES doctoral students to present their thesis results, through 180-second oral presentations in English for third-year PhD students, and posters in English for second-year students. At the most recent event, held on 2 and 3 October 2024, the presentations given by Kevyn Beissat and Cassandre Jeannot were named "best oral presentation" and "best poster" respectively.
Possible transmission of influenza D from cattle to pigs
Influenza D : une transmission possible des bovins aux porcs
03/12/2024

Possible transmission of influenza D from cattle to pigs

Type D influenza is a flu virus that mainly affects cattle. However, ANSES's Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory recently isolated the virus in pigs for the first time in France. This crossing between species illustrates the importance of research aimed at improving the study of a possible risk of virus transmission to humans.
Publication of the 2025 work programme postponed
06/01/2025

Publication of the 2025 work programme postponed

Every year in December, ANSES finalises and then publishes its work programme. The 2025 programme will be published once the resources available to ANSES are known, and possibly after determining its scientific priorities.
How are we doing as regards openness to society?
07/01/2025

How are we doing as regards openness to society?

It’s already been 15 years! In 2009, the Agency was one of the first to sign the French Charter on openness to society, intended for public agencies tasked with research, expert appraisal and risk assessment for health and the environment. Mathieu Baudrin, in charge of relations with stakeholders at ANSES, takes stock of our practices as regards dialogue and openness with organised civil society, and explains how they help to enhance the Agency’s scientific output and its mission to keep the public informed.
Environmental and occupational health: 42 research projects funded in 2024
PNR EST
23/12/2024

Environmental and occupational health: 42 research projects funded in 2024

ANSES has published the list of research projects selected following the call for proposals of the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health, issued in late 2023. The projects will receive a total of €7.78 million in funding. This research seeks to provide new knowledge on environmental risks to human health in the general or occupational populations, as well as on risks to ecosystems.

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