Historical Indicators Associated with FSIS-Regulated Establishments Implicated in Outbreak Investigations, 2010-2015

Introduction: In carrying out its regulatory mission, the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) performs numerous activities to verify food safety in federally-regulated meat and poultry establishments. These activities include plant inspections, food safety assessments, and in-plant pathogen testing. FSIS maintains records for these activities that can be used for fact-finding during outbreak investigations.  In addition, product recalls and enforcement actions may result when an establishment has failed to comply with certain regulatory standards. To date, the extent to which an establishment’s regulatory history is predictive of its role in a foodborne outbreak has not been extensively studied.

Purpose: To identify clues for use in the early detection of establishments responsible for outbreaks, we assessed the relationship between selected historical indicators and outbreak-involvement. 

Methods: We reviewed FSIS investigation records for 2010–2015 and selected investigations associated with evidence sufficient to prompt a voluntary product recall. FSIS-regulated establishments implicated in these investigations (“cases”) were then compared to similar (“control”) establishments using a matched case-control design. Indicators assessed included history of inspection non-compliances, results of routine and non-routine food safety assessments, enforcement actions, product sampling positives, and product recalls.

Results: During 2010–2015, FSIS investigated 20 outbreaks conclusively linked to 22 FSIS-regulated establishments. Of these outbreaks, 12 (60%) involved Salmonella spp. and 8 (40%) involved Shiga toxin-producing E.coli. Implicated establishments will be described with respect to historical indicators, with comparisons made to control establishments.

Significance: Using historical data as evidence during outbreak investigations may improve the timeliness of control actions and by extension, reduce the number of illnesses associated with contaminated food. Such clues may also assist FSIS in identifying and directing regulatory resources to problem establishments in advance of an outbreak, resulting in illness prevention.