FSIS investigates outbreaks of foodborne illness, commonly referred to as food poisoning in collaboration with public health partners, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and state and local health and agriculture departments.

Foodborne illness investigations are multi-faceted, multidisciplinary undertakings that involve collecting and analyzing data from a variety of sources. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and environmental evidence help guide the short-term outbreak response activities and long-term preventive actions of public health organizations working to minimize or prevent further illness.

Foodborne Outbreak Investigations: Response

During investigations, FSIS may respond by posting recalls of FSIS-regulated products linked to illness or by issuing public health alerts. Following outbreak investigations, FSIS conducts after-action reviews to identify, share, and apply lessons learned with public health, industry partners, and consumers to help prevent future illness and improve future outbreak response.

Foodborne Outbreak Investigations: Prevention

FSIS applies lessons learned from outbreak investigations to help prevent future illness in various ways, including making commodity-specific policy improvements, developing industry guidance, targeting consumer education, and strengthening collaborative outbreak response with public health partners.

Additional Resources:

• FSIS Directive 8080.3, Foodborne Illness Investigations
• CDC Food Safety Outbreaks page
• FDA Outbreaks & Foodborne Illness page
• APHIS One Health collaboration page
• FSIS Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Overview 
• FSIS Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations Annual Reports
• FSIS Resources for Public Health Partners
• FSIS Report a Problem with Food
• FSIS Current Recalls and Alerts

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