On September 21, 2023, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued the Guidelines for Microbiological Risk Assessment of Food (Volume 36), which provides a structured framework for the risk assessment of microbiological hazards in food.

The Guidance updates previous WHO and FAO guidance documents on microbiological risk assessment (volumes 3, 7 and 17) and combines them into a single volume that aggregates content related to microbiological risk assessment, incorporates new knowledge and experience in the field, and will continue to evolve as science and risk management requirements evolve. The purpose of the Guidance is to: identify important issues and characteristics of microbiological risks; Recognize and implement best practices and methods for risk assessment; Avoid some errors and defects in risk assessment; Conduct risk assessment according to the needs of risk managers.