RISK ASSESSMENT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Authors
Citation
Me. Potter, RISK ASSESSMENT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS, Journal of food protection, 1996, pp. 6-9
Citations number
18
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Food Science & Tenology","Biothechnology & Applied Migrobiology
Journal title
ISSN journal
0362-028X
Year of publication
1996
Supplement
S
Pages
6 - 9
Database
ISI
SICI code
0362-028X(1996):<6:RATAD>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
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.