Frontiers in Science Lead Article
Published on 17 Mar 2026
Balancing food safety and sustainability: trade-off risk assessments and predictive modeling
Frontiers in Science
doi 10.3389/fsci.2026.1720772
- 62,639 views
- 3 citations
Lead article
Expert insights
ARTICLE EVENT
Discussion with the article authors
Prof Martin Wiedmann and Sriya Sunil (Cornell University, UK), Prof Sophia Johler (Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich, Germany), and colleagues discussed next steps for balancing food safety and sustainability on 30 April.
Frontiers in Science Editorial
Published on 17 Mar 2026
Beyond the zero-risk illusion: negotiating food safety in a One Health era
Drs Ana Allende, CEBAS-CSIC, Spain and Sara Bover-Cid, IRTA, Spain—Food safety governance must move beyond the zero-risk illusion toward proportionate, context-sensitive risk negotiation that protects public health while supporting sustainability, equity, and resilience.
Frontiers in Science Viewpoint
Published on 17 Mar 2026
Toward the next generation of quantitative microbial risk assessment
Prof Lee-Ann Jaykus, North Carolina State University, USA—AI-enabled advances in microbial risk modeling will integrate emerging analytical tools and complex datasets—strengthening risk-based decision-making but necessitating high-quality data, rigorous validation, and expert human judgment.
POLICY OUTLOOK
Published on 17 Mar 2026
Integrating food safety, food security and sustainability
Steven J. Wearne OBE, former Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, United Kingdom—Replacing binary regulatory compliance with a graduated articulation of acceptable protection levels could embed food safety within aligned cross-sector policies and support progressive food systems transformation.
Key points
Zero risk of foodborne illness is neither achievable nor desirable; overly stringent food safety practices can lead to unintended consequences that outweigh their public health and societal benefits.
Better trade-off risk assessments and associated predictive and decision-making tools must be developed to support food safety decision-making.
Further development and implementation of risk negotiation approaches can help achieve societally acceptable sustainable food systems that produce sufficiently safe food.
For all readers
EXPLAINER
Published on 17 Mar 2026
From “zero detection” to “sufficiently safe”: improving food safety by balancing risk
A summary of the lead article in a Q&A format, with a video.
Frontiers for Young Minds
Published on 17 Mar 2026
How Safe is Too Safe When it Comes to Our Food?
A version of the lead article written for—and peer reviewed by—kids aged 8-15 years.
News
PRESS RELEASE
Published on 17 Mar 2026
Frontiers in Science: Trace levels of food pathogen do not always translate to health risk, says study
Ultra-sensitive food safety tests may drive food waste and unavailability with limited public health benefit, according to a Frontiers in Science study. (Photos: Prof Martin Wiedmann of Cornell University, USA, Prof Sophia Johler of Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich, Germany, and Sriya Sunil of Cornell University, USA).
PRESS RELEASE
Published on 17 Mar 2026
Cornell University: Risk, not zero-detection, should guide food safety
Foodborne pathogens account for approximately 420,000 deaths and 600 million cases of illness annually, but current food safety regulations are often based on ultra-sensitive tests that focus on detecting pathogens, regardless of the relative threat to consumers.
NEWS STORY
Published on 17 Mar 2026
Detecting trace pathogen levels does not always mean health risk, study finds
Researchers warn ultra-sensitive pathogen tests may trigger unnecessary recalls and food waste despite trace detections posing limited health risk.
NEWS STORY
Published on 17 Mar 2026
Study finds trace foodborne pathogen levels do not always pose health risks
Ultra-sensitive food safety testing has emerged as a double-edged sword in the ongoing quest to protect public health while reducing food waste.
NEWS STORY
Published on 23 Mar 2026
Study: Intensified sampling yields limited food safety benefits, significant cost and sustainability impacts
Researchers developed a "One Health" QMRA to evaluate trade-offs of microbiological sampling plans.
PRESS RELEASE
Published on 27 Mar 2026
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich: New approach combines safety and sustainability
A recent editorial questions key principles of food safety and advocates for a risk-based approach – to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of food systems.