US FDA releases improvement plan on foodborne outbreak response

Focusing on four specific priority areas

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking an important step with the release of the Foodborne Outbreak Response Improvement Plan. This plan is designed to help the FDA and its partners enhance the speed, effectiveness, coordination and communication of foodborne outbreak investigations.

The Foodborne Outbreak Response Improvement Plan focuses on four specific priority areas in which improvements will have the most impact on outbreaks associated with human food-

 

Tech-enabled product trace-back– Engaging smarter ways to digitize and routinely receive information needed to streamline the trace-back process, which are the steps used to pinpoint the source of contaminated foods during investigations.

Root-cause investigations (RCIs)– The plan focuses on adapting and strengthening protocols and procedures for conducting timely RCIs of foodborne illness outbreaks.

Strengthen analysis and dissemination of outbreak data– To further increase transparency of outbreak investigations, increase public confidence in results, and facilitate improved collaboration on investigation activities.

Operational improvements– Building on performance measures across the FDA’s foods program to better evaluate the timeliness and effectiveness of outbreak and regulatory investigation activities.