An Introduction to the CORE Network: FDA’s New Approach to Managing Foodborne Outbreak Surveillance, Response and Post-Response Efforts

This presentation is intended to illustrate how the new Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network coordinates, conducts, and has improved FDA’s preparedness, response, and post-response efforts involving human and animal foodborne outbreaks of illness, both within the Agency and in collaboration with our partners. In April 2010, FDA Commissioner Hamburg announced the intent to streamline the foodborne outbreak process within FDA to better work with our partners. Subsequent to this announcement, FDA formed a small group of subject matter experts to design, analyze, develop, and implement the new process.  In July 2011, the CORE Network launched,  addressing outbreak signals, response, and post-response activities, and improving the way we work with other operational areas of FDA, with the field staff, with our stakeholders, with other federal agencies, even with the public in promoting food safety education. 

The CORE Network builds upon FDA’s established best practices, incorporating lessons learned, expanding FDA’s monitoring and post-response capabilities, investigates and documents underlying causes, to drive prevention-based food safety policies.