Quantitative microbiological risk assessment in food industry: Theory and practical application

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Microbiology
• Risk Assessment
• Industrial Processes

Background:

• Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) is crucial for evaluating public health risks from biological hazards in food.
• Industrial implementation of MRA allows for the comparison of different risk reduction measures and operational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide scientific background and practical guidance for developing quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) in an industrial setting.
• To guide risk assessors and modelers in applying MRA for both food safety and food quality applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a probabilistic model involving defining model structure, establishing mathematical equations for microbial load changes, and collecting data.
• Utilizing simulation procedures to obtain model outputs, followed by interpretation and communication to stakeholders.
• Employing 'what-if' scenarios for enhanced analysis and decision-making.

Main Results:

• MRA methodology can be applied to diverse industrial contexts, including process optimization for food safety and shelf-life determination for food quality.
• Case studies illustrate the application of MRA in foie gras (safety) and brioche (quality) production.
• The endpoint of MRA differs based on application, focusing on human health for safety and food portion for quality.

Conclusions:

• MRA is a versatile tool for industrial food safety and quality management.
• The structured approach to MRA development ensures robust and interpretable results.
• Effective communication of MRA outputs is essential for stakeholder engagement and decision-making.