Latest developments in foodborne pathogen risk assessment

• Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) is a structured process for determining health risk.
• Variability and uncertainty inherent to biological processes are integrated in MRA.
• Recent developments in omic technologies may fill knowledge gaps in MRA.
• Use of Bayesian inference and Bayesian graphical models in MRA seem relevant.
• In the future, MRA could be embedded into risk-benefit assessment or MCDA.

Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) is a structured process for determining the public health risk associated with foodborne pathogens. In recent years, there has been a strong tendency in providing food safety decisions based upon quantitative assessment. Especially, variability and uncertainty inherent to biological processes have been integrated in food safety management through the use of powerful statistical and probabilistic techniques. Besides, recent developments in omic technologies may fill knowledge gaps on strain diversity and physiological variability, and, open new perspectives to refine hazard identification. Last, to satisfy the societal demand for balanced recommendations on food, MRA could be, in a near future, embedded into a more comprehensive assessment including chemical and nutritional issues, but also, cost and sustainability considerations.