Food Safety Risk Assessment in Risk Management

The purpose of this thesis was to conduct a study on food safety risk assessment and suggest methods in managing potential risks in the field of risk management for industry stakeholders; notably food suppliers, processors, distributors, and consumers. The research work firstly, aimed at developing research theory on food safety. Secondly, it sought to develop risk assessment and thirdly, food risk management. An inductive approach was implemented to generate theoretical content. In order to define the methods to assess and manage risks, a work breakdown structure of food safety and risk assessment was necessary in order to propose food management tools to either minimize or suppress food contamination. Other components such as food storage, transportation and risk (biological or chemical) assessment are discussed in the empirical section. This was achieved with the iteration of empirical data and secondary data sources notably books, articles. Primary sources data collection through interviews helped in the analysis and interpretations in view to bring more clarifications concerning the objectives of the subject. Interviews were conducted with four Finnish food companies concerning their attitude and commitment to issues of food safety and food risk management. The results of the research work suggest some essential methods such as preventive actions capable to address the issue of food risk in risk management