An integrated in vivo and in vitro strategy to improve food safety evaluation

Food safety evaluation and risk assessment is largely based on animal studies and is thereby limited by an overreliance on default assumptions that are used to address uncertainties resulting from the lack of human-relevant information. The recent development of new cellular, molecular and biochemical tools provides the opportunity to improve the scientific basis for risk assessments. In this Viewpoint article, we wish to question current practices in food safety evaluation, and propose a new approach that involves the strategic integration of in vivo and in vitro data from animals and humans; such data could form the basis for a more appropriate assessment of risk to humans, and consequently lead to the more effective use of experimental animals.