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A Qualitative Assessment of the Risk of Acquiring Avian Influenza from Poultry and Game Bird Meat Poultry products

Risk assessment of acquiring Avian Influenza from Poultry Products: Appendix 1

Appendix 1 for the risk assessment of acquiring Avian Influenza from Poultry Products.

Last updated: 20 July 2023
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Last updated: 20 July 2023
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This risk characterisation section of this risk assessment followed guidelines produced by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF, 2020), where the frequency of occurrence and the severity of detriment are considered separately. The tables demonstrating the different levels of risk and uncertainty considered when concluding the risk characterisation are included below. 

Table A2.1: A qualitative scale for the frequency of occurrence of foodborne risks

Frequency category  Interpretation
Negligible So rare that it does not merit to be considered
Very low Very rare but cannot be excluded
Low Rare but does occur
Medium Occurs regularly
High Occurs very often
Very High Events occur almost certainly

Table A2.2 - A qualitative scale for the severity of detriment of foodborne risks

Severity category Interpretation
Negligible No effects, or so mild they do not merit to be considered 
Low Mild illness: not usually life-threatening, usually no sequelae, normally of short duration, symptoms are self-limiting (for example transient diarrhoea)  
Medium Moderate illness: incapacitating but not usually life-threatening, sequelae rare, moderate duration (for example diarrhoea requiring hospitalisation)  
High Severe illness: causing life-threatening or substantial sequelae or illness of long duration (for example chronic hepatitis)  

Table A2.3 - A qualitative scale for the level of uncertainty in food risk assessment

Uncertainty category Interpretation
Low There are solid and complete data available; strong evidence is provided in multiple references; authors report similar conclusions  
Medium There are some but no complete data available; evidence is provided in small number of references; authors report conclusions that vary from one another  
High There are scarce or no data; evidence is not provided in references but rather in unpublished reports or based on observations, or personal communication; authors report conclusions that vary considerably between them

 

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