Template for Including FSIS in Foodborne Illness Outbreak Response Procedures

Information in this recommended template may be adapted by public health partners (e.g., state health 

and agriculture departments) for including FSIS in foodborne illness outbreak response procedures.

FSIS Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation Procedures

FSIS investigates foodborne illness outbreaks following procedures in FSIS Directive 8080.3

(https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/1bffb125-cd80-4b3a-ab45-

1f4c0ad863d9/8080.3.pdf?MOD=AJPERES).

FSIS Notification

In addition to following established procedures for notifying other entities (e.g., CDC), public health 

partners should notify FSIS as soon as possible of illness outbreaks potentially associated with FSISregulated products (including meat, poultry, and processed egg products). An entity/person should be 

designated to have primary responsibility for notifying FSIS. Ideally, contacts should be established prior 

to an outbreak. Here is how to notify FSIS:

• Send an email to: FoodborneDiseaseReports@usda.gov. This email account is monitored by the 

Office of Public Health Science, Applied Epidemiology Staff (OPHS-AES) during both normal work 

hours and after hours (evenings, weekends, and holidays). You may also contact individual 

OPHS-AES members by phone or email.

• Include on the email your contact(s) in the Office of Enforcement, Investigation, and Audit, 

Compliance and Investigations Division (OIEA-CID). See CID Regional contacts

(https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/informational/districtoffices#oiea).

• You may also contact the local Office of Field Operations (OFO) District Office. See OFO District 

contacts (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/informational/districtoffices#ofo).

Provide Investigative Information to FSIS

When notifying FSIS of a foodborne illness outbreak, public health partners should provide as many 

details about the outbreak and the investigation as possible, as outlined here: Information Helpful to 

FSIS During Foodborne Illness Investigations (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/InvestigationInfo).

FSIS Assessment of Results from Non-FSIS Laboratories

FSIS has a process for assessing results from non-FSIS (e.g., state) laboratories for potential use during 

foodborne illness outbreak investigations. During such assessments, FSIS may ask for additional 

information from laboratory or other staff. See FSIS Directive 10,000.1

(https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/9968da35-84c2-463b-813e-7f60682f21d9/45-

16.pdf?MOD=AJPERES).

Reporting Consumer Complaints to FSIS

Consumer complaints associated with FSIS-regulated products should be reported online via the 

Electronic Consumer Complaint Reporting Form (https://ccms.fsis.usda.gov/eccf) or by phone to the 

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854). For more information, visit Report a 

Problem with Food (www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem).

Requesting Information from FSIS

To request foodborne illness outbreak–related information from FSIS, send an email to: 

FoodborneDiseaseReports@usda.gov. You may also contact individual OPHS-AES members by phone or 

email. See FSIS Directive 2620.5 (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/9865dcdf-068c-4e2f891f-ef93b879e831/2620.5.pdf?MOD=AJPERES).
After-Action Reviews

Following foodborne illness outbreak investigations, public health partners should collaborate with FSIS 

on after-action reviews to identify model practices and lessons learned to help prevent future illnesses 

and improve response processes. To see posted FSIS after-action review reports, visit Foodborne Illness 

Outbreak Investigation Reports (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-publichealth-alerts/foodborne-illness-investigations).

FSIS Resources

For more information, visit FSIS Resources for Public Health Partners: Foodborne Illness Investigation

(https://www.fsis.usda.gov/PHPartners).