UEP President Chad Gregory, SVP Oscar Garrison, and Consultant Randy Green met with Joe Levitt and Brian Eyink of Hogan Lovell on July 9 in WashingtonD.C. to strategize on egg safety education for the industry. In 2018, whole genome sequencing (WGS) technology was utilized by CDC and FDA in the egg outbreak associated with Salmonella Braenderup. CDC utilized the WGS technology to link 45 illnesses that occurred over six months in 10 different states. Prior to this outbreak, the egg industry had not been exposed to the use of WGS in outbreak trackbacks. There is a critical need for education on how this technology is being utilized. WGS provides a way to link smaller outbreaks back to food producers that previously would not have been identified and will lead to the discovery of additional outbreaks and recalls.

L to R: Brian Eyink, Joe Levitt, Oscar Garrison, Randy Green, Chad Gregory

The meeting was a follow-up to an address given by Levitt and Eyink at the UEP Legislative meeting in May.   There will be a session on WGS during the UEP Area Briefings in  August with additional information and educational opportunities coming soon to UEP members.

Click here to register for the Area Briefings.