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Introductions to 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 assessment, risk management and risk communication."1

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

About Risk Analysis in Food
WHO website that provides an introduction to food safety risk analysis

Risk Analysis: The New Paradigm in Food Safety Assurance Presentation
Presentation from the 2000 JIFSAN seminar series that gives an overview of the historical development and current practice of food safety risk analysis

 

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."1

These resources discuss risk assessment of microbiological hazards:

About Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) in Food
WHO document that provides an introduction to microbiological risk assessment

Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Assessment PDF
Codex Alimentarius Commission document that describes general principles of microbiological risk assessment

This resource discusses risk assessment of chemical hazards:

Risk Assessment: What's It All About?
Web page from the Society of Toxicology that gives a brief overview of risk assessment for chemical hazards in a question-and-answer format, designed for a general audience

This article addresses the differences between risk assessment and safety assessment, two commonly confused processes:

Safety Assessment and Risk Assessment: Sometimes More Is Less
Short article from ORACBA News 5(2), Spring 2000 that compares risk assessment and safety assessment

 

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."1

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

Risk Management and Food Safety - FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 65
Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Consultation that covers all aspects of applying risk management to food safety matters

 

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."1

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

Risk Communication
WHO web page that provides an introduction to risk communication and its role in the risk analysis process

Risk Communication Tutorials
A series of seven on-line tutorials on various facets of risk communication

 

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 code2. Codex was developed under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. For more information, see the following websites:

1 Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. Codex Alimentarius Commission. Procedural Manual. 12th ed. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations : World Health Organization, 2001. Available online
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y2200E/y2200e00.htm. Accessed 11/12/03.

2 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization. Understanding the Codex Alimentarius. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations : World Health Organization, 1999. Available online:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/w9114e/w9114e00.htm. Accessed 11/17/03.