Canada getting new digital tools to help detect and prevent food safety incidents

In December 2019, Canada will be getting a new digital platform that encourages food safety partners to collaborate on new scientific research and routine surveillance – not just during outbreaks.

The Canadian Food Safety Information Network (CFSIN) will be introducing tools to identify patterns that could give early warning of emerging local and global food safety issues. It will automate the mining of journal articles and other open sources for food safety information. That information can be analyzed on the platform to better predict emerging issues and can be shared with CFSIN regulatory partners.

The goals of the CFSIN are to improve detection and prevention of food safety incidents, increase the response rates and resolutions of these incidents and boost confidence in Canada's world-class food safety system with our international trading partners.

Turning point

A 2008 outbreak of listeriosis across Canada linked to ready-to-eat meat was a turning point for Canada's food safety system. The response and subsequent investigation highlighted both the complexity of the supply chain and the varied and overlapping roles that industry, federal, provincial and territorial food safety authorities played in responding to a foodborne illness outbreak.

An independent investigation into the food safety investigation and recall recommended that an integrated network be created to better link food safety authorities and their laboratories. That recommendation led to the creation of the CFSIN.

Modern approach

Through a new food safety event management platform, federal, provincial and territorial partners will be able to coordinate their response to fast-moving, complex and cross-jurisdictional food safety incidents when an outbreak of foodborne illness occurs.

CFSIN Science Leader Michael O'Neill previously worked on the frontlines of the 2008 listeriosis outbreak and is now bringing that knowledge and experience to his work on the CFSIN.

"We have great protocols in place for how we approach food safety investigations," O'Neill says. "The challenge is rapid communication and information sharing when so many people and organizations are involved in a response. The coordination involved in tracking down and testing a large number of products is difficult. I'm hopeful that CFSIN capabilities, like a shared event management centre, will really help us address that aspect of foodborne illness outbreak investigations."

Food safety as a shared responsibility

The strength of the network comes largely from the partnerships.

"Stakeholders play an integral part in decision-making with the CFSIN, helping to design its scope, capabilities and how it will work," says Christiane Villemure, Executive Director, CFSIN. "At the end of the day, our partners are CFSIN's raison d'être. We want a network that makes it easier for everybody with a stake in food safety to better protect Canadians."

Once the CFSIN is launched, there are plans to extend the network to other stakeholders like the food industry, academia and international food safety authorities.

Contact us at cfsin-risac@inspection.gc.ca.