Partnerships that Help Early in Foodborne Outbreak Investigations

Consultation with food industry representatives during multistate foodborne outbreaks

Information from industry experts often contributes to rapidly identifying the contaminated food and its source.

Food industry experts are important for many reasons, including their knowledge of food production practices, distribution patterns, consumer purchasing information, and other relevant information, such as product testing and supply chain information.

Consultation with industry experts early in an outbreak investigation can provide important clues to help focus the investigation on the foods or food ingredients that may be making people sick. Insights from industry can increase the speed and ensure greater accuracy of the investigation.