As of July 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS or the agency) has made publicly available the agency’s annual summary of foodborne illness outbreaks investigated last year (i.e., FY2021). The summary reports on all outbreaks that were investigated by FSIS during FY2021 and includes the following key information:
- The number of outbreaks investigated from October 1, 2020-Septemeber 30, 2021;
- The number of outbreaks that resulted in a product recall;
- Implicated FSIS-regulated products;
- Information on pathogens and illnesses; and
- Learning outcomes from outbreak after-action reviews.
In FY2021, FSIS investigated nine (9) outbreaks. In the previous three fiscal years, FSIS investigated the following number of outbreaks: Sixteen (16) in 2018, Sixteen (16) in 2019, and Twelve (12) in 2020.FSIS stated in their review that the COVID-19 pandemic likely played a role in the decrease due to various factors such as “healthcare-seeking behaviors, hygiene practices, and where consumers ate their meals.”
More information such as access to previous reports and after-action review reports for specific outbreaks can be found here on the FSIS website.
Please contact OFW Law for further information.
