Risk assessment as a tool for food safety managers : the case of microbial contaminants

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) risk analysis framework and principles are being implemented in different national and international settings. Risk analysis is comprised of risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. Microbiological risk assessment is a new discipline; the number of peer-review published microbiological risk assessments is low and the format is still variable. The presentation and discussion of formalized microbiological risk assessments will inform the debate at both the international and national levels. The ultimate goal is to define better risk management options and mitigate the spread of microbiological foodborne diseases. The WHO and the FAO have initiated international work to improve the standardization and dissemination of microbiological risk assessment and to develop more efficient and open interaction between risk managers and risk assessors.