Page 343 - Biosystems Engineering

320 Cha pte r T e n

Two approaches are typically used within quantitative risk assess-
ment. The first is the deterministic or point estimate. In this approach,
point estimates are used for each of the input parameters with no real
understanding of the uncertainty in the input parameters. A stochastic
or probabilistic approach, on the other hand, uses probability density
distributions to characterize the uncertainty of the input parameters.
Using probability density distributions as inputs result in probability
density distributions being generated for the model outputs and,
therefore, allows confidence intervals to be generated. The type of
model used is dependent on the initial risk question and the avail-
ability of data and resources to conduct a risk assessment.

10.5 Perspective
There is a legislative requirement for food safety management, domi-
nated internationally by WTO legislation and by EU hygiene regula-
tions within the EU (Allio et al. 2006). Risk assessment has played a
pivotal role in providing guidance for food safety management and
control of risks and has become the cornerstone in ensuring safe food.
Risk assessment has provided a scientific basis for HACCP systems and
allows risk-mitigation strategies to be tested while providing a struc-
tured framework for data gathering and analysis. Risk assessment pro-
cedures play an important role in establishing import criteria and facili-
tating international trade by ensuring that scientific controls and food
safety practices are in place between trading nations. A recent survey
(Walls and Scott 2005) found that scientists foresee a major role for risk
assessment in setting regulatory policy and facilitating international
trade. Consumer confidence is an important outcome of a successful
food safety policy. There is a major role for quantitative risk assessment
in establishing food safety targets, including FSOs and POs. This is
likely to support its future role in food safety management.

10.6 Conclusions
With increased consumer awareness about food safety and quality, a
more preventative food safety management approach is being
adopted for international and national trade. No food can be consid-
ered to be risk free, and all individuals involved from farm to fork
have a role to play in ensuring its safety. Zoonotic diseases pose a
considerable threat to human health. The main vector for transmis-
sion to humans is via food. In particular, meat and meat products are
significant sources of these infections. Zoonotic pathogens in food
can be managed and controlled through risk assessment strategies.
The importance of different exposure routes for consumers needs
to be investigated and risk assessment offers considerable flexibility as
an evaluation tool and in identifying and optimizing risk management