The hazard-based approach represents an operational system to select and implement effective control measures to ensure the safety of food product. The approach is that the simple presence of a potentially harmful agent at a detectable level in food is a basis for legislation and/or risk management action and potential reason for considering a food unsafe. Risk-based approaches, on the other hand, consider the likelihood and the nature of consequences of an exposure to decide if a food is unsafe.
The “risk analysis” approach is a structured process consisting of three separate but interconnected elements: risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. It is now a fact that food safety risk analysis has been repeatedly developed and integrated into the food safety policy at national, international and European level as a tool to encourage science-based decision-making processes, to improve food control systems, to identify gaps in scientific knowledge, to set priorities among different food safety problems and to contribute to smooth domestic and international food trade.
There is no golden rule of which approach to follow when there is a need to take a risk management measure. Each approach has its advantages and its disadvantages and the use of each one depends on various factors such as the context of the food safety problem, the availability of data and time, the uncertainties and the technical capacity.