The application of benefit–risk management relating to microbiological
contaminants is based on the principle of protecting human
health, same as that of general risk management. However,
the BRA approach broadens the view of microbiological food safety
and risk management. Instead of focusing solely on minimizing the
exposure to foodborne pathogens and protecting the public from
foodborne infections, BRA proposes that the managerial decisions
that overall leads to the best outcome for the general public health
or the health of specific subgroups should be administered. BRA
advocates that administrative decisions should be based on the weighed assessments of both risks and benefits using integral units
of measure. For each scenario an assessment of both the risks and
the benefits to public health should be identified. Subsequently,
the administrative decision that promotes the most overall benefit
to public health should be promoted, based on the weighed comparison
of individual assessments. Focusing solely on guaranteeing
food safety and thereby not allowing food benefits to occur is
equally well a risk management decision as that of proposing for
instance the lowering or increasing of a current safety level for a
particular pathogen or for certain foods, if by doing so added health
benefits can be gained for the general public or population
subgroups.