Risk assessment is the systematic process of identifying hazards relating to a product or process and then evaluating the likely impact of those hazards on food safety & regulatory compliance. It’s important to clearly define & describe the hazard, both the known and the unknown aspects of the hazard.
Importantly, risk assessments should be used to inform pre-emptive decision making, rather than being used retrospectively to justify decisions which have already been made.
Various techniques and tools are available, each suited to specific types of risk assessments. Assessments can also be combined for comprehensive analysis. For example, a HACCP food safety hazard analysis is often paired with an allergen process risk assessment.
Risk assessments are an integral part of food safety system design and are essential for compliance to GFSI certification requirements.
If your HACCP food safety hazard analysis hasn’t been regularly challenged, then it may no longer be current or effective due to changes both within your operation, as well as external factors. Examples of these changes can include:
We’ll help you maintain a robust food safety system that provides the rigour to address new hazards and minimise your risk, while considering the best process to manage changes arising from risk assessments.
An important part of enacting any changes which result from a risk assessment, is having a process in place to manage change.
A good starting point to developing your own change management strategy is to read our blog which outlines 9 Change Management strategies for the food industry.
In addition to risk assessments for food safety hazards, GFSI standards also require risk assessments for;
Any variance to criteria in a GFSI scheme is also likely to require a risk assessment to justify an exemption.
We can work with you to determine the most appropriate type of risk assessment technique and provide technical advice on the assessment criteria.
Food defence threat assessments safeguard your business and brand from deliberate and malicious contamination from insider and external sources. Mitigation measures need to reduce the opportunity for a threat to be carried out, while increasing the potential for detection.
Examples of mitigation measures can include;
We’ll collaborate with your team to build their understanding of the risk assessment process so that you can conduct your future risk assessments independently and with confidence.
We’ve worked with a global confectionary business to complete a comprehensive food defence threat assessment to meet AIB International & FSSC 22000 requirements.
We work with many clients to advise on risk assessment techniques to address product and process challenges, and to address audit non-conformances.
We’ll examine your products and process for new or emerging hazards and apply risk assessment methodology to help you determine significant food safety hazards and their controls.
We’ll work with your team to define the prompts needed for a comprehensive food defence threat assessment of your business and help you prioritise threats that need mitigation measures.
We’ll document your risk assessment in the format that meets the expectations of your GFSI scheme or to your individual needs.
We’ll collaborate with your team to build their understanding of the risk assessment process and techniques so you can conduct your future risk assessments with confidence.
