In an interconnected food system where produce crosses continents before reaching plates, international collaboration is essential to combat foodborne pathogens. Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and national agencies deploy coordinated strategies to address contamination risks spanning multiple countries.
Global Frameworks for Unified Action
The WHO’s 2022–2030 Global Strategy for Food Safety establishes concrete targets, including a 40% reduction in foodborne diarrheal diseases by 2030 and enhanced laboratory surveillance worldwide. Adopted by 194 member states, this framework prioritizes harmonized standards and data sharing. In May 2024, WHO launched the Alliance for Food Safety, uniting 64 collaborating centers to accelerate this strategy’s implementation, particularly in strengthening national surveillance systems. Complementary initiatives like the Codex Alimentarius Commission—jointly led by WHO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)—develop science-based international standards referenced in global trade agreements, providing a common baseline for food safety regulations.
Bilateral Partnerships: Case Study of U.S.-Mexico Collaboration
The 2020 FDA-SENASICA-COFEPRIS Food Safety Partnership exemplifies deep technical cooperation. With 60% of U.S. fresh produce imported from Mexico, this trio addresses risks through:
- Joint outbreak response: A binational notification protocol accelerated investigations during Hepatitis A (linked to Mexican strawberries) and Cyclospora outbreaks.
- Technology alignment: Mexico now shares whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data via the FDA’s GenomeTrakr network, improving pathogen traceability. The FDA provided in-person WGS training and reagents to Mexican labs in 2023.
- Cross-border training: Over 500 Mexican growers completed FDA Produce Safety Rule workshops co-hosted with Mexican agencies.
Multilateral Coordination Mechanisms
Regional bodies amplify these efforts:
- The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)’s Food Safety Cooperation Forum, co-led by the FDA and USDA, focuses on aquaculture safety, pesticide limits, and WGS capacity building across 21 economies.
- The WTO Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) funds projects helping developing nations meet international safety standards, with the FDA contributing technical expertise.
- The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC), combining CDC, FDA, and USDA data, refines source attribution for pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, guiding global prevention priorities.
Challenges and Innovations
Persistent gaps include uneven resources for diagnostics in low-income countries and supply-chain visibility limitations—reported by 32% of food businesses in Asia. Emerging solutions focus on:
- Blockchain-enabled traceability: Piloted by partnerships like the FDA-SENASICA initiative for bulb onions.
- One Health integration: Projects like the FAO/WHO Food Safety for Food Security initiative link food safety with animal and environmental health.
- Private-sector engagement: The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness unites 20+ major companies (e.g., Nestlé, Costco) to share best practices and support outbreak victims.
The Road Ahead
The WHO Alliance’s 2024–2030 work plan will prioritize rapid data exchange during outbreaks and standardized metrics for foodborne disease tracking. As FDA Office of International Engagement Director Julie Moss notes, such networks are “vital to ensuring greater access to safe and nutritious foods for consumers around the world”. With climate change and antimicrobial resistance intensifying food safety risks, these cross-border bridges grow ever more critical.
