Third meeting of the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG), 26 - 30 October 2009, including a Food Safety Stakeholder Event, Geneva, Switzerland

The Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG) is the advisory body of the WHO Initiative to Estimate the Global Burden of Foodborne Diseases and comprises the world's leading experts in the area of food safety. During the third formal meeting of the FERG, FERG members will appraise the first interim results generated by the Initiative over the past 12 months.

During the meeting, a Foodborne Disease Stakeholder Event will be convened to which all key food safety stakeholders are invited including governments, industry, donors, consumer groups and the public and scientific media. On 29 October 2009, stakeholders will be briefed on the public health relevance of the Initiative, be presented with the first preliminary foodborne disease burden results generated by the Initiative and participate in policy working group sessions to share knowledge and experience, and generate new ideas. On 30 October 2009, a special consultation meeting with international policy-makers and policy experts will take place with the aim to advance the Initiative's work relating to the translation of research evidence into food safety policy and public health action.

Contact: Dr Claudia Stein at foodsafety@who.int