Multi-criteria decision analysis to select the most appropriate risk mitigation strategy to reduce aflatoxin intake in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A multi-criteria decision analysis method assessed potential interventions in decreasing consumer exposure to aflatoxins (AFs) in cooked rice, as a risk management tool in food safety. Both preventive and curative measures were evaluated as intervention strategies to reduce the AFs contamination in the rice supply chain in Vietnam. In addition to food safety impact, criteria such as cost of implementation, sustainable use and consumer acceptance of the intervention were included to select most appropriate risk mitigation strategy. Primary input data of the various criteria combined with literature data and attributed weights by stakeholders in the Vietnamese rice value chain, were analyzed and assigned to the criteria to rate presented interventions. Three scenarios were evaluated to reflect different values and preferences of stakeholders by use of an outranking method. In all scenarios, optimized pre-harvest agricultural practices were evaluated as the preferred intervention with highest ranking compared to pressure cooking at consumer level or essential oil application as post-harvest intervention. The findings indicated that the utilization of the optimized pre-harvest practices to avoid fungal growth on the paddy, would be the best option in reducing consumer exposure to AFs. The study outcome provides a preliminary, multi-factorial evidence to support policy decision-making in rice safety, as required in a more balanced and future-oriented food safety governance.