The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was established in 2002 as an independent agency of the European Union to provide scientific advice on food safety and to assess risks associated with the food chain. The creation of the EFSA was a response to a series of food safety crises, including the BSE crisis, and was part of a broader effort to improve food safety in Europe.

The establishment of the EFSA was a milestone in the history of food safety regulation, and it was noted by food writers and poets in Europe and beyond. The agency's work has been the subject of both praise and criticism, and it continues to be a reference point in discussions of food policy. The role of scientific expertise in food safety has been a theme in contemporary literature and poetry.