Multi-criteria decision-making framework on process water treatment of minimally processed leafy greens

Abstract

The use and application possibilities of the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodology, as a decision support tool in food safety risk management was demonstrated in a case study on the washing of minimally processed leafy greens, a multidimensional food safety decision problem involving public health, economic, environmental and socio-cultural aspects. The washing procedure remains a critical step in the production chain of ready-to-eat leafy vegetables, as the process water could act as a vector for cross-contamination of pathogens. The use of chemical sanitizers in produce wash water is scattered over EU member states and regulations remain unharmonized. The most appropriate washing methodology was determined, for the Belgian situation, based on an evaluation of weighted criteria, following the PROMETHEE II algorithm. Hereto multiple sources of information were consulted, including scientific and grey literature, expert evaluations and information provided by vegetable processing companies. Data generated over the past 10 years and published in scientific literature were selected and aggregated into probabilistic distributions using @Risk® software. An online stakeholder consultation, organized in Belgium, had the aim to measure stakeholders' preferences. The MCDA case study indicated that washing leafy greens in potable (ice) water, should be considered the most appropriate method for the Belgian case. The MCDA methodology can be applied for building evidence-based risk management decisions in the field of food safety, as it provides a transparent framework for the collection of evidence and the inclusion of stakeholders' interests.