The world's population faces a daily scenario permeated of uncertainties and threats caused by risks. Known and unknown hazards liable to be found in food are the cause of great inconveniences, which are often overlooked by those who prepare meals, but never by those who consume contaminated food. Foodborne Diseases (FBD) are recognized as a public health problem worldwide. However, the ways of dealing with the risk of FBD in the Brazilian context are still conventional and mandatory, and once the practices of decision makers are rooted, they have little impact on food safety. This symposium aims to demonstrate new ways of understanding risk. The first presentation will highlight the use of social sciences in planning a research on risk perception. The second one, will discuss the risk taking behaviors of food handlers of a military institution, and the impacts of the food safety culture on these behaviors. And the third one will show how the consumer's perception of food safety is an element that helps to change the practices of food handlers. Uniting theory, practice and the consumer's vision, we seek to promote insights for the development of researches and trainings that have a real impact on the prevention of health problems caused by FBD.