Integrated Risk Framework (IRF)—Interconnection of the Ishikawa Diagram with the Enhanced HACCP System in Risk Assessment for the Sustainable Food Industry

Mirel Glevitzky (), Ioana Glevitzky, Paul Mucea-Ștef, Maria Popa, Gabriela-Alina Dumitrel and Mihaela Laura Vică
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Mirel Glevitzky: Faculty of Economics, “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia, 15-17 Unirii Street, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Ioana Glevitzky: Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate of Alba County, 7A Lalelelor Street, 510217 Alba Iulia, Romania
Paul Mucea-Ștef: Solina România S.R.L., 7 Calea Ciugudului Street, 510382 Alba Iulia, Romania
Maria Popa: Faculty of Economics, “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia, 15-17 Unirii Street, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Gabriela-Alina Dumitrel: Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Politehnica University Timişoara, 2 Victoriei Square, 300006 Timişoara, Romania
Mihaela Laura Vică: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Louis Pasteur Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-26

Abstract: This paper presents a new risk assessment methodology called the Integrated Risk Framework (IRF) through the application of Ishikawa diagrams combined with the enhanced Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. This risk investigation technique aims to ensure a significantly higher level of quality, safety, and sustainability in food products by using improved classical methods with strong intercorrelation capabilities. The methodology proposes expanding the typology of basic physical, chemical, and biological risks outlined by the ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System standard, adding other auxiliary risks such as allergens, fraud/sabotage, Kosher/Halal compliance, Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed notification, or additional specific risks such as irradiation, radioactivity, genetically modified organisms, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, African swine fever, peste of small ruminants, etc. depending on the specific technological process or ingredients. Simultaneously, it identifies causes for each operation in the technological flow based on the 5M diagram: Man, Method, Material, Machine, and Environment. For each identified risk and cause, its impact was determined according to its severity and likelihood of occurrence. The final effect is defined as the risk class, calculated as the arithmetic mean of the impact derived at each process stage based on the identified risks and causes. Within the study, the methodology was applied to the spring water bottling process. This provided a new perspective on analyzing the risk factors during the bottling operations by concurrently using Ishikawa diagrams and HACCP principles throughout the product’s technological flow. The results of the study can form new methodologies aimed at enhancing sustainable food safety management strategy. In risk assessment using these two tools, the possibility of cumulative or synergistic effects is considered, resulting in better control of all factors that may affect the manufacturing process. This new perspective on studying the dynamics of risk factor analysis through the simultaneous use of the fishbone diagram and the classical HACCP system can be extrapolated and applied to any manufacturing process in the food industry and beyond.

Keywords: Integrated Risk Framework (IRF); risk assessment; sustainability; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP); Ishikawa diagrams; food safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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