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PulseNet USA is a national foodborne surveillance program that facilitates standardized subtyping of foodborne bacteria through a network of over 70 public health laboratories throughout the United States. With over a decade of successes in the rapid detection, communication, and response to foodborne outbreaks, PulseNet has proven instrumental to the identification and investigation of scores of outbreaks associated with unintentional foodborne contamination. In an increasingly globalized economy, the importance of food safety and biosecurity has become increasingly paramount. An act of bioterrorism involving food products is likely to be recognized, at least initially, in the same manner as naturally occurring foodborne outbreaks, and response capabilities will rely heavily upon the capacity and efficiency of existing public health infrastructure. Preparedness efforts will require the extension and enhancement of foodborne surveillance programs beyond the national level, and increased reliance on multilateral cooperation and information sharing with international partners. The recent globalization of PulseNet, with the establishment of PulseNet International, has greatly expanded the reach of foodborne disease surveillance to include regional networks in Asia, Europe, Canada, Latin America, and the Middle East, ushering in a promising new era for improved food safety and public health. Keywords: molecular epidemiology; surveillance; bacterial subtyping; foodborne pathogens; bioterrorism