Interactions between risk assessors and risk managers during three major food incidents in Europe

Abstract

Risk analysis consists of risk assessment (RA), risk management (RM), and risk communication (RC). In most countries, RA and RM of food safety are separated to achieve a high scientific integrity, and typically occur in sequential order. However, in case of a food safety incident, even though being separate processes, RA and RM are performed simultaneously due to great time pressure and expected high impacts. The aim of this study was to analyze and evaluate the observed interactions between RA and RM processes, during three major food incidents in Europe, and to provide suggestions for possible improvement. Based on the differences observed between the three cases, strengths and weaknesses of each system have been identified. The enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) crisis in 2011 in Germany, the horsemeat scandal in 2013 in Ireland, and the fipronil incident in 2017 in the Netherlands were used as case studies. Timelines of these incidents and crisis management procedures in place in each of the three countries provided the basis for further analysis. First, results showed that details of the communication processes between RA and RM bodies were frequently lacking in crisis management protocols. Second, RA, RM, and RC processes differed for each incident, due to differences in estimated risk for public health, but also due to differences in the organization within a country. Based on our results, we recommend that crisis management protocols should contain a section on communication between RA, RM, and on communication between member states in the EU.

Assessing food safety risks based on a geospatial analysis: toward a cross‐regional food safety management

“…Previous studies have evaluated the level of FSRs and food safety situations by often using available evaluation indicators, involving food safety incidents, food scandals, foodborne diseases, and food safety concerns 27‐30 . Some works of literature highlighted that most food safety issues were initially uncovered by media reports rather than official surveillance 31‐33 .…”

“…Previous studies have evaluated the level of FSRs and food safety situations by often using available evaluation indicators, involving food safety incidents, food scandals, foodborne diseases, and food safety concerns. [27][28][29][30] Some works of literature highlighted that most food safety issues were initially uncovered by media reports rather than official surveillance. [31][32][33] An overestimation of the actual level of FSR in an instance where the negative impact of food safety issues is significantly amplified by excessive media coverage is therefore a possibility.…”

How country image of an exporting country buffers against the impact of food safety incidents on consumer trust and purchase intention: an experimental study

“…Examining factors that could buffer the negative impact of food safety incidents on consumers' trust and purchase is pivotal for efficient risk management and consumer commitment repairment (El Benni et al. , 2019; Focker et al. , 2021; Wang et al.…”

“…Crisis in trust has consequently become a critical issue for food producers and other stakeholders (Wilson et al, 2016;Truong et al, 2021;Spalding et al, 2023). Examining factors that could buffer the negative impact of food safety incidents on consumers' trust and purchase is pivotal for efficient risk management and consumer commitment repairment (El Benni et al, 2019;Focker et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2022;Wu et al, 2021).…”