Exploring the Experiences of Members of the International Food Safety Authorities Network: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

What is it about?

A qualitative methodology was employed to provide a deeper understanding of the experiences of members of the FAO/WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN). The results offer an understanding of INFOSAN members' experiences in the context of what participation in this global network means to them and relate to five themes concerning trust, learning, health protection, sense of community, and future potential. The findings suggest that focusing on outreach to sustain personal interest, training to improve technical capacity, and advocacy to obtain political buy-in are ways in which the INFOSAN Secretariat could enable participation and create value at the individual, organizational and national levels respectively. Such engagement could translate into more effective international communication during urgent food safety incidents and fewer cases of foodborne illness worldwide.

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