Michael C. Bazaco Ph.D.

Michael C. Bazaco, Ph.D., is a member of FDA’s CORE Network, which manages surveillance, response, and postresponse activities related to illness outbreaks in FDA-regulated human food and cosmetic products. Prior to coming to CORE, he was a member of the FDA Office of Analytics and Outreach, where he was the emerging infectious disease lead.

a person wearing purple gloves holding a handful of live shrimp

Lessons Learned from Outbreaks: Publications and Reports from FDA's CORE+EP in FY2024

Information collected during a foodborne illness outbreak investigation can be used to inform and improve future investigations and prevention activities

Julie Haendiges Ph.D. Michael C. Bazaco Ph.D. Brett Weed M.P.H., M.S. Spencer Carran Ph.D.

October 10, 2025

An aim of FDA's Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation, and Emergency Preparedness Office's (CORE+EP) is to share the findings of foodborne illness outbreak investigations, highlighting relevant topics such as the importance of global partnerships in farm investigations, and the benefits of historical environmental surveillance for future outbreak investigations.

What Foods Make People Sick? This Federal Collaboration Seeks to Find Out

IFSAC strives to improve the data and methods used to estimate the sources of foodborne illnesses by focusing on four priority pathogens

Michael C. Bazaco Ph.D. Cary Chen Parker M.P.H. Christina K. Carstens Ph.D., M.S. Christopher Waldrop M.P.H. Reese T. Tierney M.P.H. Daniel Weller Ph.D. Kelsey Schwarz Ph.D. Andrea Cote D.V.M., M.P.H., D.A.C.V.P.M. Bailey McWilliams M.S.

December 16, 2024

The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration's (IFSAC) Annual Report analyzes U.S. foodborne illness outbreak data for priority pathogens and specific foods and food categories. This data helps shape FDA priorities for the upcoming year, informs stakeholders, and helps the agency assess the effectiveness of prevention measures.

An Overview of Historic Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations Linked to the Consumption of Sprouts: 2012–2020

Sprout production is inherently conducive to the survival and growth of pathogens

Michael C. Bazaco Ph.D. Stelios Viazis Ph.D. Donald C Obenhuber Ph.D. Patricia Homola Ph.D Fazila Shakir M.H.S. Angela Fields M.P.H.

June 17, 2021

This article outlines the identification of and responses to these outbreaks, the actions taken to prevent future outbreaks, the challenges encountered, possible contamination routes, and how current regulations may affect sprout safety.

Regulatory Report: Outbreak Investigations of Foodborne Illnesses Linked to Atypical Food-Pathogen Pairs

Lessons learned help drive future response and prevention efforts

Stelios Viazis Ph.D. Michael C. Bazaco Ph.D. Douglas Karas M.A.

January 14, 2021

After a foodborne outbreak is identified, specific food vehicles may become the focus of an investigation based on the pathogen implicated and past outbreaks linked to the pathogen.

Live: December 11, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn common areas where companies encounter challenges in their food defense strategies and how to address them.

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

Michael C. Bazaco Ph.D.

ARTICLES

Lessons Learned from Outbreaks: Publications and Reports from FDA's CORE+EP in FY2024

What Foods Make People Sick? This Federal Collaboration Seeks to Find Out

An Overview of Historic Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations Linked to the Consumption of Sprouts: 2012–2020

Regulatory Report: Outbreak Investigations of Foodborne Illnesses Linked to Atypical Food-Pathogen Pairs

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