Whole genome sequencing is changing the way we investigate foodborne illnesses.
In years past, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took samples from sick patients and would run tests on them to identify whether or not the patients were all afflicted by the same pathogen. If they were, they would interview each patient in an effort to narrow down common foods.
While this process was ongoing, the food product was still being sold in stores, potentially afflicting more consumers.
The agency is hoping that by using genome sequencing, it will be able to cut down on the amount of time it takes to identify what food or food product is making people sick.
The FDA is now sequencing pathogens that it finds in routine plant inspections and making those available to the National Institute of Health so that when someone comes down with a foodborne illness, it’s easier to identify the cause.
According to Reuters, the agency is also hoping food companies will now voluntarily submit patogens to be used in the database.