Science on the Menu

About Science on the Menu

Is it safe to eat insects? How many cups of coffee can I have per day? How are human, animal and plant health connected? Can we determine animal welfare standards based on scientific evidence? Take a closer look at some of the key topics that EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, works on to ensure safe food, through providing independent scientific advice to policy makers.

Publisher

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Category

government · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Nov 2022

Latest episode

16 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

44 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Episode 43 – Genetics in the field: how molecular scissors are redefining crops

   For millennia, humans have selected and improved plants, helping us grow crops that are more productive, resilient and nutritious. But new genetic tools could completely redefine agriculture once more. In this episode, we explore how today’s breeders use tools like “molecular scissors” to edit plant genes more quickly and precisely than ever before. Together with EFSA expert Tommaso Raffaello, we trace the story behind gene editing, unravel the science and safety of new genomic techniques and discover what these advances could mean for the future of food and farming in Europe.

2. 

   15 Jul 2026

   Episode 42 – Pesticides: the good, the bad and the ugly

   Why are pesticides used and could society do without them? In this episode, we trace the story of agriculture, from its origins to modern day. We meet familiar enemies – pests and diseases – and explore how chemicals are used to control them and keep plants healthy. And we look at how traces can end up in our food - and environment - and what it means for our health and wildlife. Together with EFSA expert Tobin Robinson, we discuss the risks, the science, and the alternatives, from traditional methods to new approaches. And we get up close with an example: the ingredients of an organic pesticide used to protect peaches.

3. 

   17 Jun 2026

   Microplastics in food: What we (don’t) know

   Microplastics are everywhere, from the oceans to our food, but what do we really know about their impact on our health? In this episode, we take a closer look at where microplastics come from, how they end up in food and drinking water, and what happens to them once they enter our bodies. Together with EFSA expert Elena Rovesti, we explore what science can already tell us, why so many uncertainties remain, and what research is under way to better understand the risks linked to microplastics in food.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

4,361,719

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

4.8 / 5

26 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

20

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

85

Contact Science on the Menu

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.