Food safety events
During the second quarter of 2019, the INFOSAN Secretariat has been involved in 29 food safety events involving 66 countries. There were 18 events involving a biological hazard (Salmonella (7), Listeria monocytogenes (4), E. coli (2), Bacillus cereus (1), Hepatitis A virus (1), Norovirus (1), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (1), and Vibrio vulnificus (1)), five involving a physical hazard (metal (2), plastic (2) and glass (1)), four involving an undeclared allergen (almond (1), egg and milk (1), gluten (1), and pistachio (1)), one involving a chemical hazard (unspecified chemical contamination (1)), and one unspecified hazard related to poor sanitation and a lack of certification during the manufacturing process. The food categories most commonly involved in the 29 events during the second quarter of 2019 were milk and dairy products (5), herbs, spices and condiments (4), meat and meat products (4), snacks, desserts, and other foods (4), fish and other seafood (3), fruit and fruit products (3), products for special nutritional use (2), cereals and cereal-based products (1), composite food (1), nuts and oilseeds (1), and vegetables and vegetable products (1).
During such international food safety events, the INFOSAN Secretariat relies on the swift action of national INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points to respond to requests for information. Rapid sharing of information through INFOSAN enables members to implement appropriate risk management measures to prevent illness.
Geographic scope
These events involved countries from all WHO regions: Europe (26), followed by Eastern Mediterranean (11), Western Pacific (10), Africa (8), Americas (7), and finally South-East Asia (4).
During the second quarter of 2019, the INFOSAN Secretariat was notified by INFOSAN colleagues in Canada of an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in Canada linked to the consumption of frozen profiteroles and eclairs, imported from Thailand. In total, 85 cases of Salmonellosis were reported, including three deaths. Through engagement with the INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point (ECP) in Thailand, the INFOSAN Secretariat was informed that the implicated frozen profiteroles and eclairs were also distributed internationally to Australia; the ECP in Australia was informed of this distribution and a recall in Australia was conducted.
INFOSAN colleagues in Australia, Canada and Thailand continued to facilitate the exchange of distribution details and Whole Genome Sequence information to assist with the identification of any illnesses linked to the consumption of the implicated products.
News & activities
Save the date for the Second Global Meeting of the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN): 9 – 11 December 2019
It was announced that the Second Global Meeting of INFOSAN, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and hosted by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, will take place from 9 – 11 December 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Global Meeting will bring together INFOSAN members from over 100 countries to provide a global overview of INFOSAN, allow opportunities for participants to engage in facilitated discussion, and to underline the importance of INFOSAN in the strengthening of countries’ capacities to respond to food-related health emergencies.
Please contact infosan@who.int for further information on the Global Meeting.
WTO International Forum on Food Safety and Trade
On 23-24 April 2019, over 600 delegates gathered in Geneva, Switzerland to attend the World Trade Organization International Forum on Food Safety and Trade and continue discussions from the First FAO/WHO/AU International Food Safety Conference held in Addis Ababa, earlier this year. This Forum highlighted the implications of digital innovation for food safety and trade, the importance of the coordinated advancement of the ‘food safety’ and the ‘trade facilitation’ agendas, and the fundamental role of Codex food standards in facilitating the harmonization of food safety regulatory frameworks as food systems evolve. INFOSAN was exhibited during the conference and enabled participants to meet with the INFOSAN Secretariat and exchange ideas on how to strengthen INFOSAN globally.
Ongoing study of INFOSAN
In May 2019, the protocol for the ongoing study of INFOSAN was published online, titled “A mixed-method exploration into the experience of members of the FAO/WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN): study protocol”. The study examines access to and usage of the INFOSAN Community Website, explores barriers and facilitators to active participation in INFOSAN, determines perceptions about the utility of INFOSAN to mitigate foodborne illness, and scrutinizes if and how participation in this network creates value for members. Results from the study will be shared when available.
The first World Food Safety Day
On 7 June 2019, the first World Food Safety Day was marked with the theme, ‘Food Safety is Everyone’s Business’. The INFOSAN Secretariat circulated a message encouraging members to commemorate this date, and shared available materials prepared by FAO/WHO, along with a list of activities in which to participate. INFOSAN members from around the globe shared videos, photos and details of the activities and celebrations taking place in their countries on the INFOSAN Community Website.
World Food Safety Day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018 with the aim to protect public health by strengthening efforts to ensure that the food we eat is safe. The process was initiated in 2016 by Costa Rica through the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which is managed by FAO and WHO.