Risk-benefit analysis of sampling plans in food processing facilities using the risk assessment framework

This study presents a quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) model to evaluate the public health, economic, and environmental implications of microbiological sampling plans for Salmonella spp. in chicken patties. The farm-to-fork model includes production, processing, storage, cooking, and consumption modules, and incorporates a sampling algorithm that simulates batch-level testing under the current EU microbiological criterion (n = 5, c = 0) as well as alternative sampling intensities. Coupling exposure estimates with a dose-response model allows quantification of expected salmonellosis cases per sampling regime. Economic impact is quantified as the net societal return, calculated as the avoided economic burden of salmonellosis minus the costs of microbiological testing and batch rejection, while environmental impact is measured as discarded batches and associated food waste. Sampling reduced illness risk only modestly across all evaluated scenarios. Within the practically relevant range (n = 0-10), risk reductions remained negligible, while both economic cost and food waste increased proportionally with sampling intensity. Higher sampling levels (n ≥ 30) produced slightly larger reductions in predicted cases but still resulted in limited absolute public health gains relative to the escalating monetary and environmental costs. Sampling was more effective in high-contamination production systems, where detection is more likely, and far less impactful in modern high-performance facilities with low baseline contamination. By simultaneously quantifying public health, economic, and environmental outcomes, the proposed model provides a harmonized basis for risk-benefit and sustainability assessments. The results highlight that the effectiveness of sampling is context-dependent and may benefit from risk-based optimization within One Health decision-support frameworks.