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.

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.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assessed the impact of its GenomeTrackr Whole-Genome Sequencing Network.  

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) second podcast in its new series will air in August 2021 and address whole-genome sequencing.

The journal Eurosurveillance has published a new study addressing costs and benefits of routine whole-genome sequencing.