Joint IAFP/SRA Webinar Series on Foodborne Risk Analysis

On May 9th, I gave a webinar sponsored by the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) on the topic of Evidence for Updating Assessments of Listeriosis Risks Considering Codex Principles. 

Webinar moderators were a Past-President of SRA in decision analysis,
D. Warner North, and a food microbiologist, Isabel Walls. Medical microbiologist Peg Coleman presented on Deliberating Evidence for Milkborne Risk Analysis based largely on three recently published peer-reviewed studies: 

• Trends in Burdens of Disease by Transmission Source (USA, 2005–2020) and Hazard Identification for Foods: Focus on Milkborne Disease

• Lessons Identified from Applications of the Risk Analysis Quality Test Release 1.0

• Suppression of Pathogens in Properly Refrigerated Raw Milk

The learning objectives appended were structured around deliberating evidence for conducting microbial risk assessments for foods. The webinar offered evidence on a series of topics with polls to encourage active audience engagement in deliberating evidence for assessing milkborne risks. 

Topic descrpition

Few risk analysis practitioners might argue that any food is risk-free. Even fewer might know that US government Agencies classified both raw and pasteurized bovine milks, as well as deli meats, as high risk for severe listeriosis in 2003. Scientific advances characterizing raw foods microbiology, particularly benefits and risks of the milk microbiota, motivates further consideration of the Codex Alimentarius Commission international consensus principles for microbial risk assessment, calling for re-assessments over time and re-evaluation as new relevant scientific data become available. Speakers will introduce recent scientific advances that provide new lines of evidence and wider context for assessing risks of raw and ready to eat foods. The webinar series will address critical needs for deliberation of scientific evidence and analysis in light of misinformation or disinformation about risks and benefits. Participants will develop essential skills for deliberating evidence and assumptions, reducing bias and misinformation, and cultivating a culture of quality risk analysis and food safety.

Webinar Abstract

The webinar offered evidence and assumptions on Exposure Assessment, Dose-Response Assessment, Risk Characterization, and Risk Management from a 2003 report on estimation of relative risks of severe listeriosis for 23 ready-to-eat foods including raw and pasteurized fluid milks. Evidence from subsequent studies on these topics plus Hazard Identification were presented. Webinar participants were invited to deliberate the evidence relative to Codex principles: 1) the need for re-assessment in light of subsequent epidemiologic data on foodborne disease (CDC dataset, 2005-2020); and 2) the need for re-evaluation based on advances in scientific knowledge. Questions raised in a recent publication on retrospective application of the SRA Risk Analysis Quality Test (RAQT) to the listeriosis risk assessment were considered.

Learning Objectives:

1.       Expand knowledge and skills for deliberating evidence for conducting microbial risk assessment for raw/ready-to-eat foods including fluid milks.

2.       Gain knowledge of risk analysis quality for raw/ready-to-eat foods.

3.       Increase understanding of potential sources of bias, misinformation, and disinformation about science and risk analysis for raw/ready-to-eat foods.