Wednesday, 03 June 2026
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland requested its Scientific Committee to: (i) advise on a risk ranking of microbiological hazards from foodborne sources in Ireland, and (ii) identify data gaps that, if filled, would enable reduced uncertainty in future risk ranking.
Microbiological risk ranking is a process carried out in order to understand the relative public health impact posed by major microbiological hazards across the food supply chain, and to underpin a risk-based national food safety system based on risk awareness. This process enables authorities to set priorities for microbiological food safety management at a national level, and provides evidence to inform decisions on control, prevention and surveillance of microbiological foodborne illness. It can also be used to identify data, knowledge and research gaps; to facilitate the setting of targets for reductions in foodborne microbiological illness; and to assist in evaluating the effectiveness of specific interventions designed to reduce microbiological foodborne illness.
This report identifies key limitations and opportunities for improvement in data collection and modelling with regard to foodborne diseases in Ireland. Addressing these gaps will enhance the accuracy and reliability of future risk rankings. Despite challenges, the methodologies presented here offer a valuable contribution to Ireland’s ongoing efforts to understand the national burden of foodborne diseases.
This report outlines the methods employed, assumptions made and results obtained in a transparent manner in order to ensure reproducibility and critical evaluation in light of the available data and underlying assumptions, while recognising that future updates will be required to address remaining gaps and limitations.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48049/IYKM8780
