Food safety-risk analysis

Risk Analysis

Risk analysis is defined for the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission as "A process consisting of three components: risk management, risk assessment, and risk communication."

The diagram above illustrates the relationship between the three components of risk analysis.

The following resources provide an overview of the risk analysis paradigm as applied to food safety:

WHO website that provides an introduction to food safety risk analysis:

• About Risk Analysis In Food

Presentation from the 2000 Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) seminar series that gives an overview of the historical development and current practice of food safety risk analysis:

• Risk Analysis: The New Paradigm in Food Safety Assurance Presentation

Training video on the application of Risk Analysis to Food from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN):

• Application of Risk Analysis to Food Safety

Risk Management

File:Risk management diagram.jpg

The diagram above represents a generic framework for risk management.

Risk management is defined for the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission as "The process, distinct from risk assessment, of weighing policy alternatives, in consultation with all interested parties, considering risk assessment and other factors relevant for the health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair trade practices, and, if needed, selecting appropriate prevention and control options."

The following resource provides an overview of the processes involved in food safety risk management:

Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Consultation that covers all aspects of applying risk management to food safety matters:

• Risk Management and Food Safety - FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 65

Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is defined for the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission as "A scientifically based process consisting of the following steps: (i) hazard identification, (ii) hazard characterization, (iii) exposure assessment, and (iv) risk characterization."

Hazard identification is "The identification of biological, chemical, and physical agents capable of causing adverse health effects and which may be present in a particular food or group of foods."

Hazard characterization is "The qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of the nature of the adverse health effects associated with biological, chemical and physical agents which may be present in food. For chemical agents, a dose-response assessment should be performed. For biological or physical agents, a dose-response assessment should be performed if the data are obtainable."

Exposure assessment is "The qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of the likely intake of biological, chemical, and physical agents via food as well as exposures from other sources if relevant."

Risk characterization is "The qualitative and/or quantitative estimation, including attendant uncertainties, of the probability of occurrence and severity of known or potential adverse health effects in a given population based on hazard identification, hazard characterization and exposure assessment."

These resources discuss risk assessment of microbiological hazards:

World Health Organization document that provides an introduction to microbiological risk assessment:

• About Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) in Food

Codex Alimentarius Commission document that describes general principles of microbiological risk assessment:

• Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Assessment

World Health Organization document that provides guidelines for risk characterization of microbiological hazards in foods:

• Risk Characterization of Microbiological Hazards in Food: Guidelines

An excerpt from the Web page of the Society of Toxicology which offers a brief overview of risk assessment for chemical hazards in a question-and-answer format, designed for a general audience:

• Risk Assessment: What's It All About?

This article addresses the differences between risk assessment and safety assessment, two commonly confused processes in a short article from ORACBA News 5(2), Spring 2000:

• Safety Assessment and Risk Assessment: Sometimes More Is Less

Risk Communication

Risk communication is defined for the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission as "The interactive exchange of information and opinions throughout the risk analysis process concerning hazards and risks, risk-related factors and risk perceptions, among risk assessors, risk managers, consumers, industry, the academic community and other interested parties, including the explanation of risk assessment findings and the basis of risk management decisions."

The following resources provide an overview of the processes involved in food safety risk communication:

World Health Organization Web page that provides an introduction to risk communication and its role in the risk analysis process:

• Risk Communication

A series of seven on-line tutorials on various facets of risk communication:

• Risk Communication Tutorials

Codex Alimentarius Commission

The Codex Alimentarius Commission is "...the body responsible for compiling the standards, codes of practice, guidelines and recommendations that constitute the Codex Alimentarius," which is the international food code. Codex was developed under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. For more information, see the following websites:

     *Homepage of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

     *Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division, Agriculture, Biosecurity, Nutrition and Consumer Protection Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

     *WHO: Food Standards (Codex Alimentarius)

Resources on Food Safety Risk Analysis

Foodrisk.org

Foodrisk is an online resource for food safety risk analysis, operated by the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) in collaboration with the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition from US Food and Drug Administration (CFSAN/FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Services from US Department of Agriculture (FSIS/USDA). Foodrisk strives to provide relevant food safety risk analysis resources to professionals and academics alike. While Foodrisk's main target audience is comprised of professionals, some basic consumer information is also offered. In addition, Foodrisk is designed in two main structural components, a search-able database filled with relevant resources which is updated weekly, and unchanging pages featuring tools, software, events, datasets, learning and training opportunities, among others.

Foodrisk Online

Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN)

The Institute is the foundation of public and private partnerships that will provide the scientific basis for ensuring a safe, wholesome food supply as well as provide the infrastructure for contributions to national food safety programs and international food standards.

The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) was established between the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the University of Maryland (UM) in April 1996. The Institute is a jointly administered, multidisciplinary research, education and outreach program.

The Institute will foster the missions of FDA and the University through the creation of partnerships to increase the quantity and quality of research, which will provide the basis for sound public health policy. It will promote food safety and human nutrition and animal health and production through an integrated academic and regulatory science program. This includes multidisciplinary research, outreach and educational programs, and policy studies. The participation of FDA scientists in JIFSAN collaborative research programs related to FDA’s mission and the consultative arrangements with other scientists associated with FDA, the Institute, and the University will ensure the critical science-based foundation needed to establish sound food safety policy. In addition, opportunities exist for collaborative projects with other Federal and state agencies, private industry, consumer and trade groups, and international organizations with mutual interests.

JIFSAN Online

In addition, JIFSAN provides risk analysis training courses to interested patrons. The increasing emphasis on risk-based decision making and the increasingly global nature of the food supply have resulted in the use of risk analysis to systematically address food safety issues worldwide. This has created a need to educate food safety and other public health professionals about the principles of food safety risk analysis and the tools and techniques required to apply this approach. JIFSAN educates students in understanding terminology of food safety risk analysis and risk analysis, and understanding how food safety and other health decisions are made utilizing risk analysis. Also, JIFSAN students learn systematic approaches, tools and techniques to address specific food safety problems, develop the knowledge to participate in the risk management decision process, and understand how to communicate effectively about risk with peers, managers, and stakeholders.

JIFSAN offers in classroom, online and customized training courses that meet various professional needs.

JIFSAN Risk Analysis Training Center