Prioritisation of Hazards Associated With Probiotics Used in Aquaculture by an e‐Delphi Approach: Consideration of the Farmer, Consumer, Crop Species and Environment

Abstract

Probiotics are increasingly applied in aquaculture, yet these products can pose safety concerns, including the presence of contaminant microorganisms. A prioritisation of the potential hazards associated with these products would support appropriate risk assessment and help to guide the development of effective regulations and targeted enforcement. An e-Delphi approach was taken to capture expert opinions on the relative importance of potential hazards linked to the intrinsic properties of probiotic products and their application in aquaculture. In total, 17 potential hazards were identified by the panel of experienced researchers, and this curated list was prioritised by the 12 panellists according to their implications for the safety of four key receptors, specifically the farmer, consumer, cultured crop species and wider environment. After three rounds of iterative evaluation by the panel using a 0–100 scoring scheme, contamination with viable pathogenic microorganisms and horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence genes were perceived to be the three most important hazards, ranking in the top four hazards for each receptor. There was significant agreement in hazard rankings by the panellists and this increased throughout the exercise, as confirmed by increasing Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) values. This is the first study to prioritise the hazards associated with the intrinsic properties of probiotic products used in aquaculture. One limitation was panel composition, which may have constrained the diversity of perspectives and future exercises could consider a broader membership. Still, the findings provide evidence to support regulators in the development of interventions that address the most serious safety concerns, which will support the safe use of probiotics in aquaculture, helping to unlock their full potential.