uncertainty analysis
A method of identifying the sources of uncertainty in a risk assessment calculation and estimating their size and direction so that errors can be taken into account
In food safety, uncertainty analysis is the process of examining and describing how much doubt or variability exists in a risk assessment. It looks at where information is limited, where assumptions are made, and how these factors might affect the results of the assessment.
EFSA uses uncertainty analysis to identify and quantify areas of doubt in its evaluations, such as gaps in data on contaminants, variability in food consumption, or differences between animal and human studies. This helps EFSA provide transparent, cautious, and science-based advice to policymakers, showing how confident they can be in the safety conclusions and where further research may be needed.