Future of FDA’s outbreak response team unclear amid agency’s staff cutbacks

The FDA has released its report on the 2023 actions of its Core Outbreak Response and Evaluation network. The network’s mission is to find, stop and aid in the prevention of foodborne illness outbreaks.

The Food and Drug Administration’s Core Outbreak Response and Evaluation network (CORE) was established in 2011. As part of its work, CORE uses disease surveillance, outbreak response, post-response activities, and collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local public health agencies. It is unclear how recent staff cuts at the FDA and CDC will impact CORE’s functions.

“In 2023, the CORE Network managed several high-profile investigations, including outbreaks of hepatitis A virus linked to frozen strawberries and Salmonella linked to cantaloupes, as well as our emerging work on novel adverse events such as lead contamination in cinnamon applesauce pouches,” said Dr. Stic Harris, CORE Network Director.

“CORE has also played a central role in developing and implementing key regulations, including the Final Rule for Traceability under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). CORE members are participants in the FDA Cyclospora Task Force focused on reducing the public health burden of foodborne illness caused by C. cayetanensis in produce.” 

Highlights from 2023
For the 2023 calendar year, the CORE network evaluated 69 events including potential outbreaks and adverse events.

The network initiated 25 responses. Responses occur when an FDA-regulated food appears to be the cause of an outbreak. The FDA is responsible for 80 percent of the U.S. food supply. 

In 2023 the CORE network issued 10 advisories. Advisories provide consumers with information that they can take action on, such as discarding recalled foods. For the calendar year of 2023, the FDA investigated 10 multistage outbreaks or adverse events associated with eight product recalls.

CORE’s methods
Emerging outbreaks and disease surveillance trends are evaluated by the CORE Signals and Surveillance Team. The team works with the CDC and FDA files offices and site agencies to review data from food firms, including past inspections, sampling results, product distribution, and sourcing information. 

CORE also considers previous incidents involving similar pathogen and food pairs. This information can provide clues to understand emerging outbreaks. When an outbreak appears to be caused by an FDA-regulated human food, information is passed to a CORE Response Team to coordinate FDA’s response efforts. 

The FDA has a research program to help FDA’s communications on foodborne illness outbreaks and food recalls. In 2023, four studies were conducted under this research program. It is unclear how the research program will be affected by recent cuts to FDA’s staff.

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