Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response (CIFOR)
The Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response (CIFOR), funded primarily by CDC, consists of national associations and federal agencies working together to improve methods to investigate, control, and prevent foodborne disease outbreaks. Member organizations represent epidemiology programs, environmental health programs, public health laboratories, and regulatory agencies involved in foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response. The food industry is represented on the CIFOR Industry Workgroup.
The Council identifies barriers to rapid detection and response to foodborne disease outbreaks and develops projects that address these barriers. Some of the Council’s products include these resources:
- CIFOR Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response and its associated Toolkit. The guidelines describe the overall approach to foodborne disease outbreaks and the toolkit aids in implementing the guidelines.
- CIFOR Food Safety Clearinghouse. An online repository of foodborne disease outbreak investigation and general food safety resources that state and local professionals have found to be helpful.
- CIFOR Foodborne Illness Response Guidelines for Owners, Operators, and Managers of Food Establishments (Industry Guidelines). These guidelines help outline, clarify, and explain the recommended role of the retail food industry in foodborne disease outbreak investigations.
- CIFOR Outbreaks of Undetermined Etiology (OUE) Guidelines. The CIFOR OUE guidelines provide universal recommendations for collecting, shipping, testing, and retaining foodborne outbreak specimens when an etiology is undetermined, even early in an investigation.
- Economic Evaluation of PulseNet. A peer-reviewed study that estimates the health and economic impacts associated with PulseNet.
- CIFOR Metrics Project. Standardized performance criteria that promote a common understanding of the key elements of foodborne disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and control activities.
- CIFOR Law Project. A 2013 analysis of laws related to foodborne disease surveillance and investigation in select states. Also includes tools to help agencies improve their legal preparedness to conduct surveillance for foodborne diseases and respond to outbreaks.
CIFOR member organizations include:
- Association of Food and Drug Officials
- Association of Public Health Laboratories
- Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
- Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
- National Association of County and City Health Officials
- National Association of Public Health Veterinarians
- National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
- National Environmental Health Association
- Food Safety Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture
- US Food and Drug Administration
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Page last reviewed: February 9, 2018
- Page last updated: February 9, 2018
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