Foodborne diseases are a major cause of human morbidity and mortality. According to the first-ever global estimates from the WHO Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (WHO FERG), foodborne diseases caused 600 million illnesses, 420 000 deaths, and 33 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2010.
In 2020 the World Health Assembly mandated the WHO to monitor the global burden of foodborne and zoonotic diseases at national, regional, and international levels and to also provide a global update of the burden of foodborne diseases by 2025. To achieve this, the WHO reconvened the FERG group to provide WHO with technical advice in these subjects. The first meeting of the FERG was held on 5, 8, 12, 14, 15 July 2021, focusing on developing a three-year strategic work plan of the FERG.
The second meeting of the FERG will be held on 19, 21, 26, 28 October and 2 November 2021 and will focus on the further development of the FERG workplan until 2024.
The names and brief biographies of individuals (“Published Information”) being considered for participation in FERG are hereby published for public notice and comment.
Comments and perceptions brought to the knowledge of WHO through this process are an integral component of WHO’s Conflicts of Interest assessment policy as to strengthen public trust and transparency in connection with WHO meetings involving the provision of technical/normative advice. Comments and perceptions will be carefully reviewed and treated confidentially. The comments will not be published and will be kept in record for three years.
WHO reserves the right to discuss information received through this process with the relevant expert with no attribution to the provider of such information. Upon review and assessment of the information received through this process, WHO, in its sole discretion, may take appropriate management action in accordance with its policies.
The participation of an expert in a WHO meeting does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization nor does it create a binding relationship between the expert and WHO. The list of participating experts, a summary of relevant interests disclosed by such experts, and any appropriate mitigation measures taken by WHO relating to the management of conflicts of interests, will be reported publicly in accordance with WHO practice.
Comments should be provided by email, and the receipt of these will be acknowledged through generic email notification to the sender.
Please send your comment to fbd-burden@who.int with the subject, “Public comments on the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG)” with indication of the name, nature and contact details of the sender.
The deadline for public comments is Thursday 14 October 2021.
WHO secretariat focal point
Yuki Minato
Technical Officer
Multisectoral Actions in Food Systems
Department of Nutrition and Food Safet
World Health Organization
fbd-burden@who.int