Food Microbiology

Risk Assessment and Risk Management

The microbial safety of food has been advanced substantially by the introduction and implementation of the hazard analysis of critical control point (HACCP) concept. It provides a systematic conceptual framework for identifying hazards and focusing on the proper functioning of key food production, processing and marketing steps.The complexity of the pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest environments make it impossible to control all potential source of microbial contamination. Efforts at control and prevention are implemented throughout the food production and processing system. Researchers are searching for a better understanding of the pathogen and their interaction with the environment, leading to improved control methods. But at the same time, the pathogens continue to evolve, and human actions drive that evolution. Even small environmental change can have unforeseen or even unforeseeable impact on microbiological populations. Improved understanding of these complex factor provides insight into pathogen evolution and opens the door to improved prevention and control methods.