Risk assessment is the characterization of potential adverse effects o
f exposures to hazards, including estimates of the magnitude of the ri
sk, the severity of outcome, and an indication of the uncertainties in
volved. Because risk assessments are based on statistical and other tr
eatments of scientific data, the quality of such assessments is only a
s good as the data that go into their calculation. Sources of uncertai
nty include scanty and/or unrepresentative data, imprecise measuring d
evices, systematic flaws in the data collection process, variability i
n host response, and difficulties in the modeling process. Sources of
uncertainty tend to be different for infectious and noninfectious haza
rds, which has led to the use of different risk assessment approaches.
The ultimate goal in using risk assessment is to provide some objecti
ve estimate of risk that can be used by the food industry and regulato
ry agencies to assure that foods are acceptably safe. Public confidenc
e in the risk-assessment technique will be won by its successful appli
cation and communication.