Evidence for Updating Assessments of Listeriosis Risks Considering Codex Principles Webinar 1 of 3: Deliberating Evidence for Milkborne Risk Analysis 

May 9, 2024 (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern Time)

Webinar Description

Deliberating Evidence for Milkborne Risk Analysis
Webinar 1 Description:

This first webinar in the series will offer evidence and assumptions on Exposure Assessment, Dose-Response Assessment, Risk Characterization, and Risk Management from a 2003 report on estimation of relative risks of severe listeriosis for 23 ready-to-eat foods including raw and pasteurized fluid milks. Evidence from subsequent studies on these topics plus Hazard Identification will be presented. Webinar participants will be invited to deliberate the evidence relative to Codex principles: 1) the need for re-assessment in light of subsequent epidemiologic data on foodborne disease (CDC dataset, 2005-2020); and 2) the need for re-evaluation based on advances in scientific knowledge. Questions raised in a recent publication on retrospective application of the SRA Risk Analysis Quality Test (RAQT; https://www.sra.org/resources/) to the listeriosis risk assessment will be considered. In closing, questions about the available evidence relating to the emerging pathogen HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) in dairy cows in the US will be considered alongside risk communications messages.

Webinar Series Description:

Few risk analysis practitioners might argue that any food is risk-free. Even fewer might know that US government Agencies classified both raw and pasteurized bovine milks, as well as deli meats, as high risk for severe listeriosis in 2003. Scientific advances characterizing raw foods microbiology, particularly benefits and risks of the milk microbiota, motivates further consideration of the Codex Alimentarius Commission international consensus principles for microbial risk assessment, calling for re-assessments over time and re-evaluation as new relevant scientific data become available. Speakers will introduce recent scientific advances and regulatory changes that provide new lines of evidence and wider context for assessing risks of raw and ready-to-eat foods. The webinar series will address critical needs for deliberation of scientific evidence and analysis in light of misinformation or disinformation about risks and benefits. Participants will develop essential skills for deliberating evidence and assumptions, reducing bias and misinformation, and cultivating a culture of quality risk analysis and food safety.

Learning Objectives:
1. Expand knowledge and skills for deliberating evidence for conducting a microbial risk assessment for raw foods including fluid milks and deli meats.
2. Gain knowledge of risk analysis quality for raw/ready-to-eat foods.
3. Increase understanding of potential sources of bias, misinformation, and disinformation about science and risk analysis for raw/ready-to-eat foods.