CDC and Food Safety Newsletter
Updated January 25, 2022
2022–2023 IFSAC Interim Strategic Plan
The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC)—a collaboration between CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service—has published its priorities for calendar years 2022–2023 pdf icon[PDF – 3 pages].
IFSAC is extending the goals and objectives outlined in IFSAC’s most recent strategic plan (2017–2021), with special emphasis on incorporating data from sporadic (non-outbreak-associated) illnesses to estimate sources of foodborne illness. During the next two years, IFSAC will continue publishing annual reports on foodborne source attribution for four priority pathogens: Salmonella, E. coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter.
Food Safety for Slow Cookers
Winter is a great time of year to enjoy cozy comfort food prepared in your slow cooker. To make sure your meal is safe to eat, follow the slow-cooker food safety practices in FoodSafety.gov’s new blog postexternal icon. Here are a few quick tips:
- If you plan to use frozen meat, poultry (such as chicken or turkey), or seafood in the dish, give yourself enough time to thaw it safely before adding it to the slow cooker. Thawexternal icon it in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.
- As you prep the ingredients, keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separate from any ingredients that you plan to eat raw (raw veggies, fresh herbs, toppings like cheese). Use separate cutting boards, plates, and utensils.
- Start your slow cooker right after you finish prepping ingredients. Do not set a timer to start cooking later in the day. Bacteria can multiply quickly in the parts of the food that reach room temperature before cooking begins.
- Use a food thermometerexternal icon to make sure your meal is cooked to the right temperature to kill germs.
Don’t Wing It: Tackle Unsafe Food
Are you putting together a game day spread this football season? Play offense by rushing to read CDC’s Game Day Food Safety Tips (also in Spanish) so you can tackle food poisoning before it makes you sick.
If your game day plans involve a gathering, visit Activities, Gatherings, & Holidays for more information on staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current Outbreaks Linked to Packaged Salads
CDC, with federal and state partners, is currently investigating one E. coli outbreak and two Listeria outbreaks linked to packaged salads. One Listeria outbreak is linked to packaged salads produced by Dole. The other Listeria outbreak is linked to packaged salads produced by Fresh Express. Learn more about leafy greens and food safety.