Role of Hazard Assessments in Driving Risk-Based Testing

Jan 21, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Eastern Time)

Webinar Description

In today’s complex food supply chain, microbiological testing is only as effective as the hazard assessment it supports. This webinar will explore how to align testing of food ingredients and products for microbiological contamination with a food safety hazard assessment to verify control of identified hazards. Drawing on real-world examples of misaligned testing programs and the downstream consequences (such as false alarms, inefficient resource use, and public-health risk), attendees will learn an approach to designing specifications and sampling plans that reflect product-, process- and ingredient-specific risks. The session will highlight why “COA-driven” testing without hazard justification can mislead decision-making, and will provide practical steps for linking hazard analysis, microbiological criteria, and testing strategy into a robust verification system.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the rationale for risk-based testing rather than unsubstantiated hazards

2. Identify examples of misaligned testing and articulate the implications for food safety management

3. Understand approaches that link hazard analysis with suitable microbiological specifications and testing programs to effectively control hazards