Through AI, an end-user can then assess the risks of specific food safety hazards in the product that they are interested in. One of the issues with these next-generation AI algorithms is their complexity, therefore considered to be a ‘black box’.

In the HOLIFOOD project, we developed multiple artificial intelligence (AI) methods to predict food safety hazards and emerging food safety risks in three supply chains.

We used a so-called holistic approach, which incorporates many different characteristics that might influence food safety hazards. These characteristics can relate for example to weather and climate change. To see what is going on under the hood of this AI algorithm, we employ explainable AI. This makes the AI explain why it came up with a decision.

With these methods we aim to:

1. Enhance risk prediction capabilities through AI algorithms that consider multiple factors
2. Reduce food safety incidents by predicting hazards before they occur. 

The entire approach and methodology will be available here: https://holifoodproject.eu/ 

The growing threat of (re-)emerging foodborne hazards driven by factors like environmental change, global trade, and resource shortages pose increasing risks to food safety. Existing detection methods were often too slow, targeted, or limited to effectively predict, detect, and manage these risks across complex food chains.

Multiple innovative methods for detecting biological and chemical food hazards have been developed, including quasi-metagenomic approaches, WGS-based assays, biosensors, and AI-driven analysis techniques.

Throughout the project we combine targeted and untargeted detection methods, advanced molecular biology techniques, and AI-driven models, integrating results into a European data-sharing platform to support decision-making.

This technology offers:

1. Reduced foodborne illness cases with advanced detection methods for pathogens and chemicals
2. On-site, real-time detection capabilities with portable microfluidic devices
3. Better understanding of how pathogens persist in food processing environments

The outcome of our studies will be available in: https://holifoodproject.eu/

For the future, we hope to see this research move forward and:

1. Apply the knowledge about pathogen persistence to redesign processing environments that minimize contamination
2. Establish testing protocols that combine both targeted and untargeted methods for comprehensive hazard detection.

HOLiFOOD implements a coordinated Living Labs (LL) approach, aiming to address the complexity of emerging food safety risks by fostering dialogue between science and society, ensuring solutions are both scientifically sound and socially accepted.

The 3 LLs focus on: 

Climate change is driving the emergence of new food safety risks, but current risk communication strategies are not adequately tailored to inform and influence consumer behavior regarding these emerging risks.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with consumers in Europe to understand people’s priorities for risk communication in relation to emerging food safety risks, and to understand if this differed from their preferences and priorities for communication about established risks.

It was concluded that emerging food safety risk communication needs to be developed and implemented to engage citizens in developing protective behaviours in relation to emerging food safety risks if specific behavioural changes are needed. At the same time, communication about adaptive and mitigatory actions is needed to reduce the impacts of emerging food safety risks associated with climate change.

The results were that communication campaigns can leverage motivational elements, such as positive framing, relevant narratives, and co-benefits including health and economic savings, to support behaviour adoption and sustained risk mitigation. Risk communication must be aligned with these behavioural drives, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly, who are more exposed to (emerging) food safety issues.

Proactive, transparent communication based on behavioural insights ensures that both individuals and organisations are better prepared to navigate the evolving landscape of food safety risks in a changing climate.
 

Unpredictable weather patterns, increased pest outbreaks, and soil degradation are increasing and affecting crop yields and food quality, making proactive risk management more important than ever. Additionally, food safety communication often lacks clarity, leaving both farmers and consumers uncertain about best practices.

A semi-structured interview with 80 European participants showed difficulty distinguishing emerging from existing food safety threats like antibiotic resistance and mycotoxins. While systemic risks linked to climate change were recognized, the lack of clear differentiation hampers prevention efforts.

Proactive measures, like early contaminant monitoring, reduced pesticide use, and efficient water management, can mitigate risks and support long-term profitability. Transparent, accessible communication builds consumer trust, with tools like QR codes and traffic-light labels seen as effective.

Participants valued clear, actionable messages. Collaboration among policymakers, industry, and farmers is essential to balance food safety with economic sustainability. Embracing innovation and sustainable practices will help ensure a safer, more resilient food system for the future.
 

Through enhancing early warning systems and analytical capabilities, we can proactively identify and mitigate threats, ensuring that the food we eat is safe and secure.

In this webinar, both EU-funded HOLiFOOD and FoodSafeR collaborated together to share their knowledge on food safety risks and why improving food safety risk analysis is crucial in safeguarding public health and maintaining consumer trust.

The webinar covered 3 topics that touches upon “Site Analytics”:

We are currently living in a fast-changing environment, and we are paying closer attention to what we eat. Keeping track of an ever-changing environment is critical for food safety and, by extension, human health. Even better is to be ahead of new dangers that may jeopardize food safety. As a result, the EU-funded projects FoodSafeR and HOLiFOOD focused on the early detection of new food safety issues through a webinar.

The webinar covered 4 topics on “System design for identification of emerging food safety risks”:

In general we could preventive risk mitigation and protect the public health through a comprehensive early warning system.

A system design approach that combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, and expert knowledge to detect upcoming food safety hazards.

To tell you more about this, the 2 EU-funded initiatives (HOLiFOODproject and FoodSafeR) hosted a lunch webinar on "System Design for Identification of Emerging Food Safety Risks"

The webinar covered 4 topics on “System design for identification of emerging food safety risks”: