Managing food chain risks: integrating technical and stakeholder perspectives on uncertainty

We explore ways for expressing and communicating uncertainties about food risks and the options for including views from different stakeholders, including members of the public, in risk assessment and risk management. Uncertainty is not only a major consideration of technical risk assessments but also needs to be understood within the two-way interaction with various stakeholders, ranging from specialist risk managers to members of the public. We consider techniques for integration of technical risk assessment methodologies, including measures of the uncertainties, with social science inputs on participation processes, consumer behaviour and effective risk communication. We use case studies representing different types of risk – chemical contamination, and microbial contamination – to focus the discussion. The paper reviews the approach of ongoing interdisciplinary research which is exploring ways of communicating risks and involving members of the public and other stakeholders in defining the interfaces and processes needed.