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.
A mysterious outbreak in October 2007, which affected about 450 people of all ages, was traced to table salt in which sodium chloride somehow had been replaced by sodium bromide, suggesting that food should be considered as a potential vehicle until it can be explicitly ruled out.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a report on foodborne illness in retail food store deli departments, using data collected between 2015–2016.
Food safety stories are essential to communicate lessons learned and share the practical experiences of food safety professionals to enhance the effectiveness of food safety training.
After a foodborne outbreak is identified, specific food vehicles may become the focus of an investigation based on the pathogen implicated and past outbreaks linked to the pathogen.