Singapore has relocated its national reference laboratory for food science and held a roundtable on novel food regulations.
The National Centre for Food Science (NCFS) is the scientific arm of the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the new site was officially opened at the end of October.
The national reference
Continue Reading Singapore re-opens science lab and holds novel food event
Most technical aspects related to sequencing have been solved but data sharing and trust remain key issues, according to experts in Europe.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and EU Commission’s Inter-European Union Reference Laboratories (EURL) Working Group on Next Genome Sequencing (NGS) organized the second Science Meets Policy conference
Continue Reading Data sharing and trust highlighted at EFSA WGS event
According to a study, the Salmonella prevalence on tested foods on sale in the United Kingdom was low but highest for imported frozen chicken.
Researchers from the Quadram Institute and the University of East Anglia in England isolated Salmonella from 42 food samples.
Salmonella isolates collected from food using whole genome
Continue Reading Researchers explore the significance of Salmonella-positive foods in the UK.
TORONTO – Monitoring of related Listeria infections over multiple years has seen more than 80 cases and a dozen deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Michael Vasser, from the CDC, gave details about the reoccurring, emerging and persisting (REP) strain during a recent presentation at the
Continue Reading CDC monitoring long-running Listeria strain behind 12 deaths
Scientists have given a preview of a forthcoming publication on the use of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in food safety.
The World Health Organization (WHO) will launch a guide in July that outlines the capacities that need to be in place before WGS can be useful for foodborne disease surveillance and
Continue Reading Experts highlight WGS power ahead of WHO guide launch
A Listeria outbreak that affected more than 50 people was the biggest fish-product-related incident in Germany, according to researchers.
The large listeriosis outbreak with 55 cases affected Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland during 2020 and 2021. Three people died.
Investigations of food samples identified Listeria monocytogenes from smoked rainbow trout
Continue Reading Large multi-country Listeria outbreak linked to trout
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is to organize a workshop later this year on the use of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for food safety management.
People have until Feb. 17 to apply for a place and FAO will select participants from 10 to 12 low- and middle-income countries.
Continue Reading FAO to hold a workshop on WGS for developing countries
Officials in Denmark are investigating three separate Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks that have affected almost 30 people with eight deaths reported.
The Statens Serum Institut, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) and DTU Food Institute are trying to find the sources of these outbreaks.
One had already been reported but the
Continue Reading Denmark hit by a trio of Listeria outbreaks with unknown sources; eight deaths reported
One-third of survey respondents in low and middle-income countries do not use whole genome sequencing, according to a study.
Only 8 percent reported using WGS in a routine, real-time way, highlighting minimal uptake of the technology for foodborne disease surveillance outside the United States, Canada, and Europe.
The main barriers
Continue Reading Study reveals low use of whole genome sequencing outside of U.S. and Europe
The Food and Drug Administration’s Grand Rounds is presenting a zoom webcast on MinION Sequencing of Foodborne Pathogens with speaker Jason Neal-McKinney, Ph.D., on Thursday, April 14.
Whole genome sequencing enables the FDA and other public health laboratories to identify, characterize, and track foodborne pathogens based on their genetic sequence.
Continue Reading FDA presents webcast on MinION Sequencing of Foodborne Pathogens
