What data sources and approaches can be used to strengthen our ability to assess food safety risks?
Background
FSS’s risk assessment function relies on a robust, up to date evidence base relating to the microbiological and chemical hazards that have the potential to contaminate Scotland’s food chain, the biological effects of these hazards and their impacts on human and/or animal health, and the extent to which our population is, or may become, exposed to these hazards from food and other likely sources. This scientific evidence is key in enabling us to characterise the risks associated with current and emerging hazards in commonly consumed products and understand food safety risks in novel and innovative products which are new to the market. It can be generated through food and environmental surveillance, dietary monitoring and toxicological studies, in addition to the investigation of food safety management systems and modelling approaches for estimating the attribution of contaminants along the food chain. It also depends on the availability of robust methods for sampling and testing food for the full range of hazards that may occur.
In order to mitigate food safety risks, we also need to understand how microbiological and chemical hazards are affected as a result changes in the environment and production methods, and the interventions that will have the greatest impact in preventing contamination. This evidence supports us in developing guidance for businesses and enforcement authorities in effective food safety management.
This research theme aims to support method development and the generation of data that will strengthen our understanding of microbiological and chemical food safety hazards in food produced in Scotland, and the design and evaluation of effective interventions for mitigating the risks.
Next steps
Get in touch with [email protected]
Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Research fields
No research fields assigned yet
Related UKRI funded projects
-
FoodSafeR - A joined-up approach to the identification, assessment and management of emerging food safety hazards and associated risks
In Europe, each year foodborne hazards, including bacteria, parasites, bacterial toxins and allergens, already cause more than 20 million cases of illness and thousands of deaths. Foodborne chemical risk, often associate...
Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee
Lead research organisation: QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST
Why might this be relevant?
Addresses the identification, assessment, and management of emerging food safety hazards and risks, aligning with the question's focus on data sources and approaches for assessing food safety risks.
-
Expansion of the Food Safety Research Network to create and mobilise new capabilities that act on microbial risk
UK consumers expect their food to be safe, and food producers and government are vigilant and work diligently to ensure safety of food supplies. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) reports that food-associated incidents are ...
Funded by: BBSRC
Lead research organisation: Quadram Institute Bioscience
Why might this be relevant?
The project focuses on microbial risk in food safety, aligning with the question's emphasis on microbiological hazards and food safety risks.
-
BIOTOXDoc - Safe food in a world of changing climate: Doctoral training to develop novel control, mitigation and risk assessment methods for biotoxins
There is a massive and urgent need to ensure security and safety of the food supply of the growing world population. The ongoing war in Ukraine as well as the energy crisis emphasized this even further. However, agricult...
Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee
Lead research organisation: Queen's University Belfast
Why might this be relevant?
Focuses on developing novel control, mitigation, and risk assessment methods for biotoxins in the context of changing climate, directly relevant to assessing food safety risks as per the question.