Microbiological risk assessment in Europe: the next decade

Area of Science:

• Food Safety Science
• Risk Analysis
• Microbiology

Background:

• The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures mandates risk-based food safety regulations for WTO members.
• International organizations like WHO and FAO, through the Codex Alimentarius Commission, have developed Risk Analysis frameworks.
• Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) is a critical component of Risk Analysis, focusing on pathogenic microorganisms in the food chain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an inventory of Microbiological Risk Assessment developments in Europe.
• To present results of a literature survey on scientific publications concerning MRA.
• To compare MRA activities in Europe with those conducted elsewhere globally.

Main Methods:

• Inventory of MRA developments undertaken in Europe under the European Commission's auspices.
• Literature survey of scientific publications on Microbiological Risk Assessment.
• Comparative analysis of European MRA activities against international research.

Main Results:

• Details on European MRA initiatives are presented.
• Findings from a global literature survey on MRA are provided.
• A comparison highlights Europe's MRA activities relative to other regions.

Conclusions:

• Microbiological Risk Assessment is a developing but increasingly accepted global standard for food safety.
• The study provides insights into the current landscape and geographical distribution of MRA research and application.
• Understanding these developments is crucial for harmonizing international food safety regulations.