Over the last few years the application of benefit–risk assessment
in relation to food and food ingredients has gained considerable
attention. Where food or foodstuffs have the potential of exerting
both beneficial and adverse effects on public health, the importance
for risk managers to be able to weigh the health risks against the
health benefits has been advocated (EFSA, 2006, 2010). Benefit–risk
assessment integrates the results of two separate activities; risk
assessment and benefit assessment and can be defined as an approach
that weighs the probability and severity of harm as a consequence
of exposure against the probability and magnitude of benefit
(FAO/WHO, 2008).