Microbial Risk Analysis in Foods

From The Critics

Reviewer: Rebecca T. Horvat, PhD, D(ABMM)(University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description: This book describes the use of risk analysis to prevent the contamination of food with microbial pathogens. The editor notes that this is a new and emerging focus in the field of microbial food safety.
Purpose: It specifically focuses on ways to use risk analysis and why this area of research has emerged as a vital tool to developing a safe food chain. This field has developed along with the computing technology that can take into consideration the complexities of food production and distribution. This is likely to be used by many in the discipline.
Audience: According to the editor, this book was written for "beginning risk assessors" who need some guidelines when evaluating risk. It will also be a "valuable reference for the graduate student or university researcher" working on risk assessment research. It could also serve as a resource for industry and government risk managers who will be interpreting risk assessments and may be communicating these ideas for application. All of the authors who contributed to this book are experienced in analyzing the risk of microbial contamination of food.
Features: This is the first book I have seen that specifically outlines the process of risk analysis and the relationship between microbial risk assessment and microbial food safety. Each chapter covers specific topics in risk assessment such as modeling the risk, analysis of the food process, discussion of pathogens that can contaminate food and using quantitation of microbial agents to assess risk or harm to the consumer. An intriguing chapter details where these microbial contaminants may exist in the environment where food is grown or harvested. It then shows an evaluation of how these pathogens exist and grow in these natural environments. This is followed by an example of how this information is used in a risk analysis. Also helpful are the chapters that include case studies to demonstrate the practical aspect of risk analysis.
Assessment: This unique topic is not well appreciated. I found it interesting and this book will be a valuable resource for those scientists who seek to protect the food chain from harmful infectious agents.