by Jerrie Lynn South-DeRose

Created on: February 24, 2009   Last Updated: March 14, 2009

The Center for Disease Control's Collaboration With State Public Health Officials and the FDA on Samonella Outbreaks

News and television reports about new and ongoing outbreaks of Salmonella or E-Coli contaminated foods or food products have become commonplace throughout the United States. Large multi-state food borne outbreaks have increased through a centralized food supply that allows foods or food products, that are contaminated in production, to be shipped to many regions and states in as little as 1-4 days and causing a widespread outbreak. A global economy that includes foods grown and processed in other countries and exported to the United States has also increased the chances for food borne outbreaks. This is where the Center for Disease Control (CDC) steps in.

The CDC is an agency connected to the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. They work closely with state health departments and the Food and Drug Administration to help monitor surveillance for a number of food born and other types of infections, and assisting states in their own investigations. One major role of the CDC is to lead and assist in helping find and track the source of contaminated food or food products, especially in the case of major nationwide food borne outbreaks. Finding and identifying the source of an outbreak and tracking down all the locations the contaminated foods have been shipped to is paramount when it comes to protecting the public and preventing or minimizing the illnesses or deaths from the contaminant.

One recent example of the Center for Disease Control's role in public health is the salmonella outbreak that began on January 28, 2009. A joint investigation by the CDC and the FDA determined that the contaminant was processed peanut paste used in the manufacturing of peanut products such as certain Little Debbie' products and peanut butter filled snack crackers. The contamination was tracked to a plant owned and operated by the Peanut Corporation of America. (A list of recalled products can be found at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterre call/index.cfm.

According to a Center for Disease Control Media statement dated February 6, 2009, the agency also serves as the lead coordinator between public health partners to detect an outbreak, define its size and extent, and to identify the source. Once a contaminated food source has been identified, regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture work to control the outbreak. The CDC will continue to investigate potential sources of illness and monitor for additional illnesses to determine when the outbreak is over. The CDC provides on-going collaboration with state public health officials and the FDA to investigate any multistate outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella, e-Coli, or any other widespread disease or infections.

The CDC maintains a website that contains information and links related to their participation in investigating current outbreaks, public health information, public education and outreach, prevention, and other services provided by the CDC. The website is updated continuously. The information contained on the web site and through various links provided on their home page is further evidence of their role in regards to public health and safety, and should be shared.

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