RISK ASSESSMENT FOR FOOD SAFETY USING THE RISK MATRIX METHOD

Food safety incidents pose a serious threat to public health, and the food safety management system requires a scientifically grounded risk assessment toolkit. The aim of the study is to assess food safety risks across five aspects – food product categories, regions of Ukraine, entities involved in incidents, causes, and sources of contamination – and to substantiate food safety management measures. Methods. Based on an incident database compiled from official reports of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection for the period from 2022 to the first half of 2026, the risk matrix method combined with the Borda method was applied. The database includes 224 outbreaks registered in 2022–2025, as well as data for the first half of 2026. Results. Risk models were identified, and a static risk assessment was performed across five aspects. The five highest-risk food product categories are meat and meat products, fish and fish products, vegetable and dairy products, and home-canned products.The number of registered outbreaks increased from 39 in 2022 to 67 in 2025 (approximately 72%), indicating a growing epidemiological burden; risks also trend upward, with 2024 and 2025 ranking highest. The highest-ranked regions are Lviv, Odesa, and the city of Kyiv; the highest-ranked business entities are local grocery stores, public catering establishments, food service establishments at educational institutions, and informal markets; the main causes are ineffective management, production equipment wear, human error, and non-compliance with technologies; among contamination sources, microbiological and chemical hazards dominate.The results provide a scientific basis for developing risk prevention and control measures, prioritizing inspection resources, and optimizing the food safety management system in Ukraine. Implementing the proposed measures will reduce the number of incidents and protect public health and well-being.Received 22.06.2026, accepted 30.07.2026, published 22.09.2026