The National Food Institute is WHO Collaborating Centre for antimicrobial resistance among foodborne pathogens. Through this work the institute is involved with global Salmonella surveillance.
Global Foodborne Infections Network (GFN) 'A WHO network building capacity to detect, control and prevent foodborne and other enteric infections from farm to table'.
The network is formerly known as WHO Global Salm-Surv and is a global network of laboratories and individuals involved in surveillance, isolation, identification and antimicrobial resistance testing of foodborne and other enteric bacteria.
GFN is a collaborative project of:
- World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States of America
- National Food Institute, Denmark
- Reseau International Des Instituts Pasteur, France
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, United States of America
- Animal Sciences Group, Netherlands
- Enter-net, European Union
- OzFoodNet, Australia
It is part of endeavours of WHO to strengthen the capacities of its Member States in the surveillance and control of major foodborne diseases and to contribute to the global effort of containment of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens.
With regard to GFN the National Food Institute conduct:
- External Quality Assurance System (EQAS) on serotyping and susceptibility testing of Salmonella
- Training courses
- Individual training
- Reference testing of problem strains
- Participation in various research projects with member countries
More information on GFN can be found on www.who.int/gfn