Quality and Risk Management in Agri-Food Chains

Abstract

The book Quality and Risk Management in Agri-Food Chains consists of 10 chapters, including an introduction chapter and an epilogue. Every chapter starts with a useful summary, and presents a well-defined and delineated subject in the area of food quality and risk management. The different chapter subjects are well-chosen and present complementary perspectives on the theme of the book. Moreover, all chapters 2–9 can be read on their own, depending on the interest of the reader. After the introduction which addresses key fields of attention in quality and risk management, chapter 2 starts with a useful overview of the subject area and provides the reader with key definitions of the major quality and risk management concepts. Section 2.2 describes key developments in quality management (QM) strategies since World War II, goes into customer, management and operational aspects of QM and gives an insightful description of typical QM requirements (and available tools!) for different stages of the food chain. Section 2.3 further specifies the developments in the quality strategy of companies: from quality control, through ISO standards, through total QM, to dynamic or integrated QM and how the introduction of these quality strategies took place in three countries: Denmark, The Netherlands and Germany. Chapter 3 furthers the overview perspective given in chapter 2 by presenting major principles of (EU and German) food law, including regulations on monitoring, risk assessment and prevention. It also more specifically pays attention to labelling issues (e.g. organic labelling, geographical indications and ‘without gene technology’ labelling). Further most important fraud issues are reflected upon.