The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently published a new food safety webpage as part of its resource library for environmental health practitioners and programs that serve states, localities, tribes, and territories (SLTTs). The webpage provides tools, trainings, and guidance for mitigating the spread of foodborne illnesses, as well as links to several CDC food safety programs.
The webpage features CDC initiatives that environmental health specialists can utilize to improve food safety in their respective SLTTs. These initiatives include:
- Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net): Research-based findings and recommendations on foods associated with outbreaks in restaurants, best food safety practices for restaurants, and other topics
- National Environmental Assessment Reporting System (NEARS): A CDC surveillance system that captures environmental assessment data from foodborne illness outbreak investigations that can be used to improve food safety programs
- Environmental Assessment Training Series (EATS): An interactive virtual environment that teaches users how to conduct environmental assessments as part of outbreak investigations.
In addition to featuring the aforementioned initiatives, the webpage highlights a variety of resources that serve industry and SLTT health officials. Examples of featured resources include theoretical background for food safety systems, networking outlets, and advice for restaurant managers and other food safety professionals.
