Hazard identification

A QMRA has always for origin an initial statement on the specific objectives of a risk assessment (the risk question). The risk question should precisely define (see Figure 1):

• the microbiological hazard causing the adverse effect
• the foods of interest
• the population of interest

graph TD

Q[Risk question]

H[Hazards]

PM[Product/Matrix]

P[Population groups]

PH[Public health]

subgraph Hazard identification

Q-->H

Q-->PM

Q-->P



end

Figure 1: Components of hazard identification

The following chapters aims at identifying the data of interest for characterizing the pathogens contamination of foods and the population.