The first decade of the new millennium was a time of increased complexity in many
respects. The EU underwent its largest Enlargement ever and new Member States
exerted fresh influences on the Union, including the introduction of even more
culinary choices. At the same time, heightened consumer awareness meant that there were
more demands on the EU to provide reassurance regarding the safety – and often also the
quality and nutritional benefits – of food products. Meanwhile, ever more in tune with how
food was being produced, an increasing number of consumers were giving preference to
organic products, ethically-traded food and healthier options in processed food. Alongside
this, in the quest for more efficient production methods which could churn out high
quality foodstuffs, new technologies were being developed at a breath-taking pace. The
number of “novel foods” aiming to corner the EU market grew, while genetically modified
products made their first appearance. To make sure that these foods posed no risk to
consumer health, the EU introduced specific legislation to ensure that new products could
only be placed on the market if they were scientifically proven to be safe.