Whole genome sequencing of Enterococcus faecium presents the theoretical possibility of probiotics in swine and cattle production as a source of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) recently published a study that observed the evolution of certain shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 strains over 23 years.
Breaking Bad News author Jeff Hahn sits down with Food Safety Matters to share insights and tools for successfully navigating crisis communications. Also, Bob Ferguson of Strategic Consulting joins us to discuss his latest Food Safety Insights column, “How WGS Continues to Change Food Safety."
USDA-FSIS and FDA have started to share information on whole genome sequencing. Also, FSIS and CDC are working to enhance data sharing on critically important public health activities.
This column will expand on the findings of the FDA study of the economic evaluation of the GenomeTrakr whole genome sequencing (WGS) program, adding data on the use of sequencing and how it will continue to change food safety practices and markets. It will also discuss what FDA is doing with GenomeTrackr to uncover previously unseen outbreaks and how this is keeping pressure on processors to expand environmental monitoring and controls.
Implementation of rapid whole-genome sequencing could help transform microbial risk surveillance across the food industry from a surveillance approach to a more preventive approach; one in which we can identify outbreak indicators to predict, and take steps to prevent, a problem before it even occurs.
Whole-genome sequencing has become a significant tool in investigating foodborne disease outbreaks. We examined the current use of this technology for foodborne disease surveillance and food monitoring at the global level and sought to understand the factors limiting its use in developing countries.