This webinar will explore seven interrelated questions. Participants are encouraged to come with their own arguments and ideas regarding these questions. 

1. How do we push the world as far as possible to a world where all analyses supporting risk management are of at least adequate quality?
2. How do we define "adequate quality"?
3. Where should guidelines come down on a continuum from "bright line" to "general guidance"?
4. How do w promote the concept of "Culture of Analysis Quality" in each domain?
5. Do we even want to use the word "enforce"? If not, then how do we best get the guideline complied with?
6. How should any guidelines be promulgated?
7. What is the best way to get these guidelines written?

Wed, Aug 30, 2017 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM NZST
Wed, Aug 30, 2017 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM AEST

Scientific advances over the past decade are transforming our knowledge of the natural microbes of breast and bovine milks. Unexpected results from culture-independent studies of milk microbiomes are raising questions about assumptions of past risk analyses for breast milk banks, food safety regulators, and milk consumers around the world. In ‘milk wars’ around the world, the opposing positions are often stated as definitive beliefs for all time, not as evidence-based communications that merit further deliberation as science advances. Understandably, consumers around the world are confused by conflicting statements about benefits and risks in the media and from regulators.

Attendees will likely find surprises in the webinar, regarding the history of the ‘milk wars’ around the world, as well as assessments based on ‘top-down’ data and ‘bottom-up’ data. In the next phases of the joint RO project, frameworks for assessing and communicating benefits and risks using objective, unbiased evidence-based processes (e.g., evidence mapping, mental modeling) will be applied.

The webinar series is organized by partnering Regional Organizations (Australia, New England, New Zealand, and Upstate NY) of the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) as the first of three phases of a project entitled Understanding Perceptions and Evidence of Benefits and Risks of Consuming Fresh Unprocessed (Certified Raw or Raw Drinking) Milk.

Presenters
Peg Coleman is a medical microbiologist and microbial risk assessor who contributed to human health risk assessments for bacteria causing anthrax, campylobacteriosis, E. coli O157:H7 enterocolitis, listeriosis, salmonellosis, and tularemia. Peg is a former regulator (USDA/FSIS) and currently sole proprietor of Coleman Scientific Consulting. 

D. Warner North, Ph.D., is principal scientist of NorthWorks and author of the first formal microbial risk assessment for NASA in 1974 on potential growth of microbes on Mars. Warner was a member of the committee authoring the 1996 National Academies report, ‘Understanding Risk: Informing Decisions in a Democratic Society.' Dr. North has a long association with Stanford University, having served as a professor or faculty member from 1976 to 2009.