From hazard to control, from paper to practice

What lies beneath

A strong risk assessment:

• Is specific, up to date, and aligned with your operations
• Addresses microbiological, chemical, physical, and allergen related hazards
• Uses current sources, legislation, and databases
• Is linked to control measures that are supported by the team

Without a risk assessment, you are operating without direction. With a strong assessment, you know where your risks are and how to manage them.

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Leadership means knowing and acting

Risk assessments are not a one time exercise for QA. They are dynamic tools that only add value when applied in practice.

Leadership means:

• Collaborating across departments
• Ensuring regular updates and verification
• Creating awareness and ownership throughout the organisation

Risks arise where systems and people interact. That is where control must begin.

Three levels of development

Compliance | Risk assessment for raw materials and processes

Mapping hazards through structured risk assessments for raw materials and processes. Control measures are linked to procedures, records, and verification activities. Annual reviews, audits, and evaluations are in place.

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Compliance+ | Extended risk assessments for fraud, food defense, and allergens

In addition to traditional HACCP, organisations implement further risk assessments in line with GFSI standards:

VACCP for risks related to food and raw material fraud

TACCP for risks of sabotage or intentional contamination

Allergen management, including cross contamination analysis and VITAL classification

Risk assessments are linked to internal audits and integrated into change management processes.

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Strategic | Dynamic risk assessment

Moving towards real time risk evaluation. Risks are not only reviewed periodically, but also assessed during changes, incidents, or signals from the supply chain.

Data and insights are actively used for decision making, training, and continuous improvement.

Food safety is no longer just a system. It becomes a reflex.

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What it delivers

A mature approach to risk assessments provides:

• Demonstrable compliance with HACCP and GFSI standards
• Fewer incidents and product recalls
• Higher employee engagement
• Better insight into supply chain risks and emerging hazards
• Strong integration of food safety into both behaviour and policy
• Strong risk assessments bring food safety from paper into practice.

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Where do you stand?

When was your risk assessment last truly updated? Is your current assessment still aligned with your operations? Are new raw materials, supply chain risks, and changes included? Are allergens and fraud risks part of your approach?

Mérieux NutriSciences | Expert Partners helps you keep your risk assessments up to date, practical, and strategically valuable.