Global spread

An increasing part of the global food supply is traded between countries. Thus, a food safety problem in one country is today a problem for all countries. This requires novel research based solutions for collecting and analysing global information and to implement the most efficient control measures in the primary production or at various stages of the food chain.

The research is necessary to improve global health and to advise international and national authorities and other stakeholders.

Methods

The National Food Institute performs molecular and epidemiological studies on the global spread of foodborne pathogens in collaboration with international partners. To build global collaboration the National Food Institute performs external quality control, training courses for research organisations globally and participate in various expect consultations as well as being WHO collaborating center and EU reference laboratory. We invent and develop technical and practical solutions for global exchange of biological information. 

Resources

The National Food Institute participates as WHO Collaborating Centre in Global Foodborne Infections Network and collaborates in EU though the network from the EU Reference Laboratory. Through the Center for Genomic Epidemiology, we develop bioinformatic solutions for global monitoring of pathogens based to whole genomes.

Collaboration

The global network includes more than 200 institutions in >100 countries. Key collaborators are:

World Health Organization (WHO)
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, China
Institute Pasteur, France
Public Health Agency of Canada
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, USA
National Salmonella and Shigella Institute, Thailand