Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence: Strengthening State and Local Capacity for Foodborne Illness Surveillance and Outbreak Response through Peer-to-Peer Support

BACKGROUND:  As required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), CDC designated Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence (CoEs), located at state health departments in partnership with academic institutions, to serve as resources for other local, state, and federal public health professionals to investigate and respond to foodborne illnesses and outbreaks. CoEs provide peer support by developing educational materials, delivering trainings, and providing consultation services.

METHODS:  

Through their unique health department/academic institution partnerships, CoEs provide technical assistance, online and in-person training, and various tools to other local, state, and federal public health professionals to improve capacity for foodborne illness surveillance and outbreak response. Activities of the CoEs include:

• Collaboration with frontline public health professionals to strengthen routine foodborne illness surveillance and outbreak investigations 

• Evaluation and analysis of the timeliness and effectiveness of foodborne illness surveillance and outbreak response

• Training local and state public health personnel in epidemiological and environmental investigation of foodborne illness, including timeliness, coordination, and standardization of the investigation process

• Establishment of fellowships, stipends and scholarships to train future food safety leaders in foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak investigation and to address critical workforce shortages

• Strengthening capacity to participate in foodborne illness surveillance and environmental assessment information systems

• Conducting program evaluation and outreach activities focused on increasing prevention, communication, and education regarding food safety

RESULTS:  The CoEs have developed over 80 online products that are available free of charge on the CoE-managed website CoEFoodSafetyTools.org. The CoE website allows other local, state, and federal public health professionals immediate access to a variety of topics from questionnaire templates to just-in-time trainings. CoEs have also provided one-on-one assistance to a number of state and local health departments, including 11 states recently funded under the Outbreak Enhanced Program. This assistance can be in the form of consultation for long-term projects (e.g. data system improvements) or more urgent consultation during ongoing outbreaks.

CONCLUSIONS:  

Since their establishment, CoEs have addressed FSMA requirements by developing online tools and providing direct support to other state and local health departments. The guidance, tools, and assistance provided by the CoEs have helped many jurisdictions improve their foodborne illness surveillance and response capacity.