S01 - Making Foods Safer: How Outbreaks Can Influence Change

Macleod A
Organizer: Ben Chapman
Convenors: Ben Chapman and Laura Bauermeister

8:30 Lessons Learned from Outbreak Investigations: Barriers and Management Suggestions — Jack Guzewich, FDA-CFSAN, College Park, MD, USA

9:00 Food Safety in the U.S.: Does Litigation Help? — William Marler, Marler Clark LLP PS, Seattle, WA, USA

9:30 Reaction After an Outbreak: A Case Study of an Industry Response — James Gorney, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, Davis, CA, USA

10:00 Break

10:30 Preventing Outbreaks: Creating a Culture of Food Safety — Steven Grover, Burger King Brands, Miami, FL, USA

11:00 Post-Outbreak Comsumer Fallout — Christine Bruhn, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA

11:30 What Makes a Good Story? Media Reaction to Outbreaks — Doug Powell, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

11:45 Panel Discussion

Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that in industrialized countries, the annual incidence of foodborne illness affects up to 30 per cent of the population each year. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported an average of more than 1,200 outbreaks per year in the US since 2000. Outbreaks can be used to evaluate management gaps and focus policy directions of both industry and government. The goal of this symposium is to provide an overview of the prevention, investigation, and reaction to foodborne disease outbreaks, focusing on specific positive and negative outcomes. Speakers will discuss why processors, ingredient suppliers, restaurant operators, and any operations involved in the growth, processing, and distribution of food products should understand the legal, social and business consequences of a foodborne disease outbreak. Through case studies of past outbreaks, speakers will discuss how data obtained from epidemiologic investigations can be used to focus outbreak prevention strategies. Barriers to investigations will be explored, as well as crisis management responses of firms impacted by outbreaks. An example of a full corporate strategy to create and foster an internal food safety culture will be described. Post-outbreak reactions of consumers, and the influence on attitudes will be discussed. Media coverage and the development of storylines following incidents will also be explored. The symposium will end with a round-table panel discussion on future directions and the potential opportunities for learning from outbreaks, with the focus on reducing incidence and improving public health.