A primer on risk assessment modelling: focus on seafood products

Abstract

The risk of foodborne disease is a combination of the likelihood of exposure to the pathogen, the likelihood of infection or intoxication resulting in illness, and the severity of the illness. In a system as complex as the production and consumption of food, many factors affect both the likelihood and severity. To effectively manage food safety, a systematic means of examining these factors is necessary. There has been an increasing appreciation that by providing a framework that contr ibutes towards the understanding of systems, risk assessment is an ideal tool for this purpose. The increased understanding translates to a better informed selection of risk mitigation or reduction strategies and an ability to identify knowledge gaps, which can subsequently direct research. International agencies and all levels of government are increasingly relying on, or at least recognizing the need to rely on, risk assessments for public health protection, international trade, de cision-making and cost-effective resource allocation.