LAUSR

From 18–21 September 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) hosted its third Scientific Conference on Science, Food and Society (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/events/event/180918) in Parma, Italy. Capturing all the diverse elements of the total 92 formal platform presentations to EFSA’s third Scientific Conference is challenging. This special issue of the EFSA Journal dedicated to the Conference brings together selected invited papers that were presented at the Conference together with multiauthor papers that summarise the different sessions of the extensive programme. Exponential growth in the volume and complexity of information including data, the use and variety of social media and other platforms for communication, and questions about the authenticity and reliability of scientific expertise all provide a common and ever challenging backdrop to the major discussions of the conference. Is the current practice of food safety risk assessment fit for the demands ahead, and if not, how can it be realigned for the future of food safety decision-making? An important and repeated theme is the need for better engagement with society while remaining scientifically robust (Devos et al., 2019b). Risk assessment should address value-laden judgements transparently, reflecting social and ethical priorities and by engagement with interested and affected parties (Elliott, 2019). Social context requires trustworthy and open communication that acknowledges the importance of epistemic uncertainty, and societal views ought to be included in the evidence base for decision-making (Patel, 2019). The question is: how can these goals best be achieved? Focussing on advancing the science in each sector reveals differing requirements. The traditional human health risk assessment paradigm is based on the identification of apical endpoints and is currently heavily reliant on animal testing. Promising new tools and technology enable better understanding of the mechanisms that lead to adverse effects and the more accurate prediction of the