While definitions and procedures for risk assessment have been
well established, both through governmental bodies, (e.g. CAC) and
in the scientific literature, guidelines for performing benefit assessment
and benefit–risk assessment have not been well defined. Several
EU funded projects, including: BENERIS (www.beneris.eu),
QALIBRA (www.qalibra.eu) and BRAFO (www.brafo.org) have been
working in the field of food and nutrition on the development of a
benefit–risk methodology that enables assessment of the overall impact
of particular dietary choices on health. Recently a benefit–risk
assessment guidelines document has been finalized by the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific committee (EFSA, 2010).