FDSC40680 Risk Assessment, Management & Communication

Academic Year 2023/2024

The concept of food safety of the entire food chain, from farm to fork, is a central tenet of present global food policy, and an understanding of the various elements involved in the food chain approach to food safety is essential to stakeholders in the food industry.

The aim of this module is to develop understanding about how the idea of food safety from farm to fork evolved over time from previous piecemeal approaches, and to be familiar with the process of Risk Analysis consisting of: Risk Assessment, Risk Management and Communication of Risk. The nature of hazards in the food supply will be covered, including: allergenic, biological, chemical and physical hazards. Onn completion of this module, students will be able to identify and manage these risks in a food chain.

This module is intended as part of an Executive Education Programme: Professional Diploma in Food Safety and Quality. Students undertaking this module will be employees of companies partnered with the School of Agriculture and Food Science for the provision of this programme. Any questions please contact Prof. Eileen Gibney.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be able to:
• Describe the evolution of the Farm to Fork approach to food safety
• Understand the principles of Risk Analysis, Risk Perception, Risk Assessment and Risk Management in the context of the food supply.
• Identify hazards in a food supply chain and the appropriate strategies for their management

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to Risk Analysis
Risk Assessment including Hazard Identification & characterisation, exposure assessment
Risk assessment in terms of predictive microbiology, surveillance, sequencing, cold chain & classical statistics & food safety criteria
Validation of thermal processing
Chemical Risk Assessment of the food supply
Chemical occurrence data sharing – how and why; case studies
Global Agencies and Risk Analysis
Risk Management
Risk Communication & crisis communication
Public Health and the benefits of a Risk Analysis Approach

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Specified Learning Activities

15
Autonomous Student Learning

170
Online Learning

15
Total

220
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is taught using online lectures and tutorials. The lectures will be released each Monday morning. All material for each week will be contained in a folder, marked by the week. Some weeks we may provide additional reading material, which will also be contained within the lecture folder. This material will be explained within the lecture or relevant tutorial.

Online tutorials will be scheduled. You will be given instructions on how to log in and participate in these tutorials. A folder containing material for these tutorials (if required) will also be made available on Brightspace. All tutorials will be recorded and shared shortly after.

A Discussion forum will be created in brightspace to facilitate open discussion between students and staff on this module. Please feel free to use this forum to ask and answer questions on various topics. At times we as module coordinators may post specific questions for discussion and will alert you to these by email/announcement.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Powerpoint presentation Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes

80
Continuous Assessment: Two MCQs will be presented throughout the module - one after week 5 and the other after week 10. The MCQs are worth 2x10% each of the final grade. Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

20

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback will be given - general feedback, followed by points of commendation and areas for improvement.

Name Role
Dr Emma Feeney Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Kent Kent Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Fiona Lalor Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Manus Mitchell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mrs Angela Brennan Tutor
Professor Francis Butler Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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