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Initiative to estimate the Global Burden of Foodborne Diseases: Previous page | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group

  In this section:

The Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG) comprises over 30 internationally renowned experts in a broad range of disciplines relevant to global foodborne disease epidemiology. Members were appointed by the WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, following a transparent selection process.

:: Members of the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG)



The expert group is charged to:

  • assemble, appraise and report on the current, the projected as well as the averted burden of foodborne disease estimates;
  • conduct epidemiological reviews for mortality, morbidity and disability in each of the major foodborne diseases;
  • provide models for the estimation of FBD burden where data are lacking;
  • develop cause attribution models to estimate the proportion of diseases that are foodborne; and, most importantly
  • use the FERG models to develop user-friendly tools for burden of foodborne disease studies at country level.
:: Full FERG Terms of Reference [pdf 43kb]



FERG consists of:

  • a Core (or Steering) Group to coordinate and oversee the scientific work;
  • four different Thematic Task Forces advancing the work in specific areas as shown in the figure below; and
  • external resource advisers who are invited on an ad hoc basis to provide specific expertise.

To estimate the global human health burden (expressed in Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), FERG will initially focus on microbial, parasitic, zoonotic and chemical contamination of food with an emphasis:

  • on diseases whose incidence and severity is thought to be high.
  • on pathogens and chemicals that are most likely to contaminate food and which have a high degree of preventability.

FERG will be supported by the WHO Secretariat, comprising 9 WHO Departments as well as international organizations (such as FAO, UNEP etc.) with an interest in foodborne disease burden estimation.

Structure and Composition of FERG

Thematic task forces

:: More detailed information on the FERG governance and technical bodies [pdf 47kb]

:: More information on FERG's operating procedures [pdf 66kb]

Initiative to estimate the Global Burden of Foodborne Diseases: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 | Next page