A Risk Sciences International Case Study

Food Inspection Scientific Analysis & Risk Modelling

Food Inspection Scientific Analysis & Risk Modelling

Client: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Listing of the client in no way affirms the client's support, sponsorship, or validation in any form of Risk Sciences International or the RSI staff member(s) who conducted this project during their stay with RSI or prior to joining the company. This case study is displayed for informative purposes only to demonstrate the capacity of RSI staff members. This case study reveals no proprietary information or information deemed sensitive.

Project description:

Scientific Analyst & Risk Modelling

In support of ongoing efforts to modernize Canada's food inspection system, a request was issued for scientific and analytical expertise to enhance two critical risk-based decision tools: the Establishment-based Risk Assessment (ERA) and Importer Risk Assessment (IRA) models. These models are used to allocate inspection resources across food establishments, importers, hatcheries, feed mills, and renderers in a structured and scientifically defensible manner.

The work focused on adapting the ERA model to incorporate chemical hazards alongside existing microbiological components, with the goal of improving predictive accuracy and oversight effectiveness. Specific tasks included assessing chemical exposure through hazard quotients, estimating health consequences, conducting literature reviews, and proposing a framework to translate incidence into human health risk.

Additionally, the project involved development of the Work Tasking Logic Model (WTLM), an algorithm designed to integrate real-time risk intelligence from ERA-Food into dynamic work planning systems. This model supports timely scheduling of inspection activities based on risk levels, helping optimize the allocation of inspection personnel and respond adaptively to emerging risks.

Start: 2022

End: 2024

Experts related to this case study

Greg Paoli

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Greg Paoli is the CEO and Principal Risk Scientist at Risk Sciences International (RSI), a firm he co-founded in 2006 following the integration of his earlier consultancy, Decisionalysis Risk Consultants, with the consulting activities of the McLaughlin Centre for Population...
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Emma Hartnett

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Dr. Emma Hartnett is Vice-President, Risk Modelling and Simulation at Risk Sciences International (RSI), where she has been a foundational member since its inception in 2006. A globally recognized authority in quantitative risk assessment (QRA), she specializes in developing risk...
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