The UK Food Standards Agency recently highlighted the Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and Environment (PATH-SAFE) program, which aims to develop a national surveillance network that uses whole genome sequencing (WGS) to improve the monitoring of foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Using whole genome sequencing (WGS), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were able to link a persistent, drug-resistant strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to multiple sources for various foodborne illness outbreaks.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is planning to hold a workshop for government officials from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to learn about whole genome sequencing (WGS). Individuals interested in participating are invited to apply.

Using whole genome sequencing (WGS), researchers from the University of Johannesburg have identified a trend of nonpathogenic Listeria strains developing concerning characteristics, such as virulence and stress resistance. Like the pathogenic L. monocytogenes, the “harmless” strains L. innocua and L. welshimeri are common to food processing facilities.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CIFA) recently provided insight into how whole genome sequencing (WGS) and international data-sharing helped trace a 2020 multinational food safety outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes to enoki mushrooms, enabling countries to rapidly recall the affected products. 

Virginia Tech researchers in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are examining how fresh pears change during storage, and how such knowledge can be used to keep food safety risks low over time.

The European Food Safety Authority’s European Scientific Network on Microbiological Risk Assessment recently convened for its 22nd meeting to discuss various national efforts related to microbial food safety hazards such as prevalent foodborne pathogens, mycotoxins, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and other risks.

The UK Animal and Plant Health Agency has reported on certain developments that took place in 2021 that impact food safety regarding whole genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) will host a virtual open house featuring live demonstrations and presentations on Salmonella sampling and quantification, whole genome sequencing, agency technology, and the National Residue Program.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analyses have revealed pervasive Listeria monocytogenes strains to be an issue throughout the Norwegian food system, and researchers hypothesize that genetics may factor into which strains survive and spread in food production environments.