A Delphi-based approach to developing and validating a farm food safety risk assessment tool by experts

A farm food safety risk assessment tool for fresh produce and salmon farms were developed and the Delphi-based approach was utilised to identify and aggregate the opinions of experts on the food safety hazards and diseases faced in the farms while simultaneously certifying the scientific contents of the tool. The expert panels also serve to validate the methodology used in the farm food safety risk assessment tool as well as to suggest for improvements. Three rounds of Delphi questionnaire were carried out and the process managed to solicit experts’ agreement on the food safety hazards and diseases associated with UK’s fresh produce and salmon farms and the topics used in the farm food safety risk assessment tool. The results and suggestions obtained from Delphi process were reviewed and subsequently adapted into the risk assessment tool. The Delphi-based technique has proven to be a valuable approach to aggregate multiple experts’ opinions across diverse locations and achieves a wider distribution of experts. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.