Chapter 3 - Microbial Food Safety Risk Assessment

Abstract

Microbial food safety risk assessment is a systematic approach to aid our understanding of complex food systems and to translate the potential presence of pathogens in the food production, processing, and preparation environments into statements of the likelihood and magnitude of a food safety risk, in terms of adverse public health outcomes. The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international body responsible for defining risk assessment principles and practices for all foodborne hazards, endorses a framework for risk assessment that provides a structured format and process for MRA. However, this guidance is not intended to be prescriptive but allows for different approaches and the use of novel analytical tools for assessing risk, to translate scientific data and knowledge into practical information to better inform managers and decision-makers when dealing with the many challenges that arise in the complex field of food safety.