A Comparative Analysis of Risk-Based Food Safety Inspection Methods Across EU Countries and Canada

Abstract

With the expansion of global trade and the emergence of new food products, food safety risks have increased, making foodborne illnesses a significant global public health issue. In this context, and given the limited regulatory resources, risk-based food safety inspections of food business operators are essential for controlling foodborne disease outbreaks and ensuring food safety. However, the absence of transparency in risk-based inspection methods limits cross-country learning and hinders the enhancement of food safety control. This study analyzed risk-based inspection methods employed in nine EU countries and Canada, combining expert interviews and document analysis. By identifying risk factors, risk categorization processes, and common challenges, our findings provide practical insights for developing and refining future risk-based methods. Our analysis reveals that inherent and compliance-related factors often serve as fundamental factors. However, mitigating factors and subjective factors, such as food safety culture, remain underutilized in practice. Two dominant risk categorization and inspection frequency assignment processes are summarized: a two-layer grouping process and a single-layer scoring process. The latter offers greater flexibility, enabling the integration of a broader range of risk factors. Through critically evaluating existing methods, this study offers actionable insights to improve risk-based inspection methods, fostering future harmonization and reducing food safety risks globally.