The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced the formation of the Canadian Food Safety Information Network (CFSIN)  to promote food safety and public health by anticipating, detecting, and responding to food safety issues.

The Minister of Health for Canada, Patty Hajdu, stated “Through CFSIN, food safety partners across Canada are working together to safeguard Canada’s food supply through data sharing and analysis.  With our investment in innovation, CFSIN will improve our ability to respond to food safety issues.” 

The development of CFSIN was initiated following the listeriosis outbreak in 2008 that demonstrated deficiencies in recognizing outbreaks in many provinces and evidence of incoordinated investigations.

The CFSIN will combine the resources of the federal government, provincial and territorial organizations and food safety experts in academia. Components of the program will include:

• Laboratory mapping of participating laboratories indicating capacity and capability
• Scanning and intelligence with specific reference to identifying foodborne outbreaks, including clinical diagnoses and reports on social media
• Communication through a secure online network to facilitate news postings, shared scientific data, and the findings of working groups
• Response to foodborne infections will include procedures and technology to recognize and manage foodborne disease outbreaks across provinces, counties, and territories
• Alerts will be issued following foodborne disease outbreaks with dissemination of relevant information

Currently 15 partners participate in the network, representing 10 provinces and territories and three federal departments.

Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs for the province of Ontario, stated “The timely sharing of data and information on foodborne illnesses is critical in preventing outbreaks in our province and across the country.

The U.S. has an effective system of monitoring foodborne infection under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention incorporating FoodNet.  It would be appropriate for the CDC to establish close communication with their counterparts in Canada since the volume of food products moved across the common border justifies close cooperation, as evidenced by recent STEC outbreaks associated with green produce.