Friday, July 24, 2015

CFIA funds virus lab in Qubece

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be opening a reference laboratory for food-borne viruses at St.-Hyacinthe, Que.

Why it's not at Guelph, which is the federal government's centre for food research, is a bit of a mystery. Except an election looms. But you'd like to hope that research and food safety were not political footballs.

The CFIA also announced it has made an agreement with Génome Québec to develop genomics-based analytical methods for pathogen detection and epidemiological support.

“This partnership is expected to lead to the development of more precise, molecular-based methods for identifying specific strains of foodborne viruses,” the CFIA says in the announcement posted on its website.

“This ultimately could help the CFIA trace outbreaks of viral foodborne illness back to a specific source and take a more targeted approach to recalling contaminated products.

“It will also allow public health officials to identify high-risk strains of foodborne viruses.

“Over the next five years, the CFIA will continue to improve its laboratory services in St-Hyacinthe by modernizing its facilities and equipment as well as conducting research and developing new methods of detection.

“Additionally, the laboratory has been increasing professional and technical staff and is developing advanced technologies for food surveillance.

“The Food Virology National Reference Centre will be a part of the Food Safety Information Network announced earlier this year.


“The FSIN will be implemented incrementally over five years, linking federal and provincial food safety authorities and accredited laboratories across the country,” the CFIA notice says.