title: Critical review of methods for risk ranking of food-related hazards, based on risks for human health.
abstract: This study aimed to critically review methods for ranking risks related to food safety and dietary hazards on the basis of their anticipated human health impacts. A literature review was performed to identify and characterize methods for risk ranking from the fields of food, environmental science and socio-economic sciences. The review used a predefined search protocol, and covered the bibliographic databases Scopus, CAB Abstracts, Web of Sciences, and PubMed over the period 1993-2013. All references deemed relevant, on the basis of predefined evaluation criteria, were included in the review, and the risk ranking method characterized. The methods were then clustered-based on their characteristics-into eleven method categories. These categories included: risk assessment, comparative risk assessment, risk ratio method, scoring method, cost of illness, health adjusted life years (HALY), multi-criteria decision analysis, risk matrix, flow charts/decision trees, stated preference techniques and expert synthesis. Method categories were described by their characteristics, weaknesses and strengths, data resources, and fields of applications. It was concluded there is no single best method for risk ranking. The method to be used should be selected on the basis of risk manager/assessor requirements, data availability, and the characteristics of the method. Recommendations for future use and application are provided.
authors: a RIKILT, Wageningen University and Research Centre , Akkermaalsbos 2, Wageningen , the Netherlands.
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Van der Fels-Klerx
authors: a RIKILT, Wageningen University and Research Centre , Akkermaalsbos 2, Wageningen , the Netherlands.
authors: E D
authors: ED
authors: Van Asselt
authors: b University of Newcastle , School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development , Agriculture Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne , United Kingdom.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Raley
authors: c Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute , Soborg , Denmark.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Poulsen
authors: c Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute , Soborg , Denmark.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Korsgaard
authors: c Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute , Soborg , Denmark.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Bredsdorff
authors: c Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute , Soborg , Denmark.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nauta
authors: d Food and Environmental Research Agency, Sand Hutton , York , North Yorkshire , United Kingdom.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: D'agostino
authors: b University of Newcastle , School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development , Agriculture Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne , United Kingdom.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Coles
authors: a RIKILT, Wageningen University and Research Centre , Akkermaalsbos 2, Wageningen , the Netherlands.
authors: H J P
authors: HJP
authors: Marvin
authors: b University of Newcastle , School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development , Agriculture Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne , United Kingdom.
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Frewer
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003663:Decision Trees; D005506:Food Contamination; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Risk prioritization; food safety; health impact; nutritional hazards; risk ranking