Researchers have developed a new quantitative risk assessment model for foodborne illness outbreak investigations that takes into account epidemic curves, and demonstrated its efficacy with a case study on a 2019 Salmonella outbreak linked to precut melons. 

A multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections associated with meat and cheese from deli counters has resulted in 13 hospitalizations, one death, and one miscarriage. The foodborne illness outbreak is under investigation.

Officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently held a conversation to explain to stakeholders how the agency handles foodborne illness outbreaks and other adverse food safety events, as well as how FDA plans to improve its processes. FDA also released a supplementary video illustrating its processes.

A new website allows Kentucky residents report foodborne illnesses and centralizes statewide data on foodborne diseases.

Researchers from the USDA’s Economic Research Service and CDC developed a model that can be used to assess the value of state and federal foodborne illness outbreak investigations and subsequent recalls. The researchers demonstrated the replicability of the model using a 2018 Salmonella outbreak as a case study.