The Food and Drug Administration is offering a new tool on its website to alert consumers earlier to foodborne illnesses.
The Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Investigation Table is designed to present numerous data points to consumers as the investigations unfold.
Outbreak investigations go through several stages, according to an FDA news release.
“Some outbreak investigations will uncover enough information to develop specific recommendations for consumers, retailers and industry,” according to the release. “Others yield limited information throughout the investigation and detailed advice for consumers cannot be developed.”
The FDA announced the table on Nov. 18. It includes information on three active E. coli investigations whose sources haven’t been found, but could be linked to romaine lettuce.
“Although FDA does not have all the information in the early phase of these investigations, this new outbreak information is being shared early and will continue to be updated weekly as a demonstration of the FDA commitment to more real-time and transparent communication with stakeholders and consumers about outbreaks we’re investigating,” according to the release.
The table information includes:
Date the information was posted on the table, when it has been determined an FDA-regulated food is involved;
- Reference number;
- Pathogen;
- Products related to illness, if any;
- Recall and traceback information;
- Link to CDC information on outbreak; and
- Collection and analysis of sampling.
“This table will be a stepping stone to help the public move from having little knowledge of an outbreak, through each stage of the investigation, and in the best-case scenarios, investigating agencies can provide detailed, actionable advice,” according to the release. “As the investigations evolve, so will the communications about those investigations.”
The table is rolled out as a six-month test pilot, and the FDA will take feedback and adjust it as needed, according to the release.
