In regulatory science, what term describes an intrinsic property, such as a peanut being inherently allergenic?
Answer
Hazard.
Understanding the distinction between hazard and risk is crucial when evaluating safety assessments for novel substances, including engineered traits in food. Hazard is defined as the intrinsic potential an agent has to cause harm, regardless of the level or duration of exposure. For instance, the presence of a specific protein known to trigger an immune response in susceptible individuals defines the peanut as having an inherent allergenic hazard. Regulatory science aims to manage the *risk*—the probability of harm occurring under specific exposure conditions—by thoroughly assessing the *hazard* presented by the introduced component to ensure the overall risk remains negligible compared to existing food options.

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