Identification of evidence gaps and future research needs in food safety

Burton, E., Borriello, S. P., Gregory, P. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4118-4833, Healing, J., Nicholson, C., Oliver, T. H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4169-7313, Pearson, S., Smith, R., Tildesley, M., Wastling, J. and O’Brien, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1200-053X (2026) Identification of evidence gaps and future research needs in food safety. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 169. 105544. ISSN 1879-3053 doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2026.105544

Abstract/Summary

Establishing research priorities to support evidence-based regulatory goals requires cross disciplinary collective expert input. This paper reviews the application of expert elicitation to identify and prioritize research questions in food safety regulation, which approach offers regulators and research funders a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective method for assessing evidence gaps in an expanding scientific landscape. While similar methodologies have been applied in ecology and other fields, this is, to our knowledge, the first use in food safety research. Recommendations are provided to strengthen the process. A facilitated workshop shortlisted 51 questions, grouped into 12 themes, from a long list of 262 submissions, which spanned broad topics, including understanding the origins of emerging hazards and their health impacts. Environmental and sustainability themes address unintended consequences of decarbonization, food waste reduction, and risks from recycled plastics and food byproducts. Dietary change raises questions on emerging allergens, nutritional adequacy of alternative proteins, low fibre intake, and microbiome-related health impacts. Technology-driven changes, such as new production systems, kitchen devices, and secondary food economies, intersect with these dietary shifts. Scientific advances provide opportunities to improve understanding of the dietary exposome through better intake data. Exposure to dietary chemicals occurs alongside complex mixtures of other agents, requiring structured approaches to risk assessment. The evolving science of chemical mixtures and rapid innovation in food systems underscore the need for robust, prioritized research compatible with good regulatory practice.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/127779
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.tifs.2026.105544
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Publisher	Elsevier
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