Advantages and Challenges Associated with the Implementation of Food Risk Assessment in Nile Cruisers

Food risk analysis provides an internationally accepted framework for assessing and managing risk posed by hazards in the food supply, food risk analysis consists of food risk assessment, food risk management, and food risk communication. The aims of this research were to determine advantages, challenges and effectiveness of the implementation of food risk assessment process in three and four-star Nile cruisers operating between Luxor and Aswan by using questionnaire instrument. Two hundred sixty questionnaire forms were distributed to the food and beverage managers and supervisors in three and four-star Nile cruisers, two hundred thirty were fully completed and returned, the questionnaires elicited information on the concept of food risk assessment, barriers hindering implementation and advantages that motivate three and four-star Nile cruisers to implement food risk assessment.
The results revealed that the respondents had not a sufficient awareness about food risk assessment, while  just less than half of respondents (42%) gave the right definition of food risk assessment and the results revealed that the most important challenges of  food risk assessment process implementation in Nile Cruisers are missing exposure data , inadequate assessment of hazardous properties ,the lack of training and qualification of manpower, mixing between the functions of risk assessment and risk management, the blurred tasks of the management of food risk assessors, lack of a clear risk assessment policy prior to implementation.
The study also showed the advantages and motivation for the implementation food risk assessments was; create awareness of hazards and risks. Identify who may be at risk (employees, cleaners, visitors, contractors, the public, etc.), determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done, prevent injuries or illnesses when done at the design or planning stage, prioritize hazards and control measure. The study recommends that cruisers should establish an independent department for food safety risks management. The heads of such departments and supervisors should be adequately aware of food risk assessment concept.