Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation Survey for FSIS Public Health Partners

OMB Number: 0583-0175

Exp. Date 02/28/22

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE (FSIS)

FY20 Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation Survey

Dear Public Health and Food Safety Partner,

We are seeking feedback from state and territorial public health and food safety agencies to identify opportunities to improve collaborative responses to foodborne illness outbreaks. We have used responses from past similar surveys to strengthen partnerships and inform FSIS outreach efforts. Thank you for taking the time to provide your input.

The first question will ask about outbreak notification frequency. Please note that we are not asking about how often outbreaks associated with FSIS-regulated products occur in your state. Rather, we are asking how often your state notifies FSIS when such outbreaks occur.

1. Please indicate the frequency with which your state notifies FSIS when evidence suggests a potential association between a foodborne illness outbreak and an FSIS-regulated product (meat, poultry, or processed egg products).

1. Always.

2. Very often.

3. Sometimes.

4. Rarely.

5. Never.

2. Please indicate the primary reasons that your agency/entity may not routinely notify FSIS when evidence suggests a potential association between a foodborne illness outbreak and an FSIS-regulated product (meat, poultry, or processed egg products). (select all that apply)

1. We always notify FSIS of outbreaks associated with FSIS-regulated products.

2. Notifying FSIS of outbreaks is not necessary.

3. We are not aware of a contact at FSIS to notify of outbreaks.

4. Food jurisdiction in an outbreak is not always clear (i.e. whether regulated by FSIS, FDA, or other agency).

5. Notifying FSIS is not in our written outbreak response procedures.

6. We do not think FSIS is interested in localized outbreaks.

7. We report outbreaks to CDC; we assume CDC will notify FSIS, if needed.

8. Another agency in my state is responsible for notifying FSIS of outbreaks (please list agency: ______________________________).

9. Other (please specify: ______________________________).

3. Which agency/entity in your state would most likely notify FSIS when evidence suggests a potential association between a foodborne illness outbreak and an FSIS-regulated product (meat, poultry, or processed egg products)?

(Please select one and use the comment box to provide additional information or if you are unsure)

[Responses A–C will be presented in random order; there will be an open-text box below the response options to add additional comments]

1. Epidemiology (State Health Department).

2. Food Protection/Environmental Health (State Health Department).

3. State Agriculture Department.

4. Other/provide additional information [open-text field]

4. How does your agency/entity notify FSIS of foodborne illness outbreaks? (select all that apply)

1. By contacting individuals in FSIS; please list names: [open-text field]

2. By sending an email to the FSIS outbreak notification email address: [email protected].

3. Don’t know.

4. Comment: [open-text field]

5. Is communicating/coordinating with FSIS described in your agency’s written procedures for responding to foodborne illness outbreaks?

1. Yes.

2. No.

3. My agency does not have written procedures for responding to foodborne illness outbreaks.

4. Don’t know.

6. Please indicate your familiarity with federal recordkeeping requirements for retailers that grind beef?

(9 CFR 320: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title9-vol2/xml/CFR-2019-title9-vol2-part320.xml)

1. I did not know that these requirements existed.

2. I know that these requirements exist but am not familiar with the details.

3. I am familiar with these requirements, but to my knowledge, my agency does not inform retailers of these requirements.

4. I am familiar with these requirements and my agency informs retailers of these requirements.

5. Other comments:

7. Please share successes or opportunities for improvement regarding your experience working with FSIS during outbreak investigations. [open-text field]

For more information, please visit our partner resource webpages:

Template for Including FSIS in Foodborne Illness Outbreak Response Procedures

www.fsis.usda.gov/OutbreakProcedures

Information Helpful to FSIS During Foodborne Illness Investigations

www.fsis.usda.gov/InvestigationInfo

Resources for Public Health Partners: Foodborne Illness Investigation

www.fsis.usda.gov/PHPartners

Please contact Willy Lanier ([email protected]) with comments or questions about this survey.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0583-0175. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 10 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.