ABSTRACT
Globalization of trade is having a big impact on food systems worldwide, resulting in greater food availability and diversity. A food commodity produced on one side of the world can be available on the other side in a matter of days. The increase in food productivity is driven by scientific and technological advances, genetic improvements, development of fertilizers and pesticides, and use of antibiotics and growth promoting substances. A microbial risk assessment (MRA) is performed to describe the risk and the potential adverse health effects of microbial hazards in the whole farm-to-fork food production chain or the part that is relevant to the problem. Risk assessment, the central scientific component of the risk analysis process, is the qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of the adverse effects linked to chemical, physical and biological agents that may be present in foods. Risk communication refers to the exchange of information and opinions regarding risk between risk assessors, risk managers and all stakeholders.
