DFEH is a part of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Helsinki. DFEH has 3-4 professors approximately 30 other academic persons working either as senior lecturers, post docs or PhD students and 8 -10 technicians. The department has in 2004 moved to the Viikki campus and has new excellent laboratories and other facilities providing a stimulating environment and atmosphere for high level of research and teaching. DFEH has good opportunities and practices for multi-science cooperation with other biosciences at the campus. E.g. the Institute of Biotechnology has extensive facilities for sequencing and bioinformatics required. The research activity of DFEH is directed on microbiological food and drinking water safety and spoilage of foods. This covers epidemiology, ecology and diagnostics of the most important food-borne bacterial, parasitic and viral pathogens. In addition to conventional cultivation tools, DFEH has advanced research facilities required for molecular typing, proteomics, sequencing and genome studies. (Marja-Liisa Hänninen)