Emerging science fostering regulatory policy development

By Burton Blais

This blog post was originally published to Cultivating Science on science.gc.ca.

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is an example of a new technology that can provide exquisitely detailed analyses of microbes on the basis of their entire genetic blueprint, as opposed to mere fragments.

WGS technology can be used in support of regulatory food inspection as it allows for detection, identification and detailed characterization of harmful microbes of high priority such as vero-toxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC), Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes.

WGS has the potential to go beyond established uses for surveillance and outbreak response to inform future food safety risk assessment, policy and program development, and early interventions to respond to or prevent illnesses and outbreaks.

Read the full blog post.