The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a guide for use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in food safety.
The guidance comes in three parts. The first explains the minimum capacity requirements in the foodborne disease surveillance and response system prior to considering implementation of WGS.
The second discusses how WGS can help to support outbreak investigations and the third describes the usage of WGS in routine surveillance of foodborne diseases.
A related webinar was organized in June 2023 where lessons learned, opportunities, challenges and national examples were highlighted. The event featured Dr. Eric Brown, from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
WGS is useful for understanding foodborne diseases through enhancing routine surveillance, outbreak detection and response and for source identification, said WHO. It is hoped the technology will help reduce the burden of foodborne illness.
FoodWorld 