The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service today announced the establishment of a new division that will play a major role in developing the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), an integrated network of laboratories across America that can quickly respond to food-related emergencies. The FSIS FERN Division will work with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand and manage an existing group of more than 90 federal, state, and local laboratories with the capability to detect and identify biological, chemical and radiological agents in food. “Developing a network of laboratories that can communicate effectively and work together applying consistent laboratory practices will increase our ability to prevent and respond to possible attacks or emergencies involving food,” said Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Merle Pierson. Full Story
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