NEARS Resources

Learn more about environmental assessments.

• Environmental Assessment Training Series (EATS): Learn about role of environmental assessments in the broader context of outbreak investigations and the food safety system and practice the skills necessary to investigate outbreaks of foodborne illness in restaurants.
• Environmental Assessment Definitions: Review key terms used in environmental assessments of foodborne outbreak investigations.
• Environmental Assessments Triggered by Foodborne Illness (Food and Drug Administration – FDA): Read about how environmental assessments are conducted and reports summarizing previous environmental assessments.

Learn more about root causes.

• Root Causes Overview [PDF – 260 KB]: One-pager on the five types of root causes
• Field Guide to Identifying Root Causes [PDF – 876 KB]: Information on root causes for use during outbreak investigations
• Identifying Root Causes—A Reference for NEARS Users [PDF – 774 KB]: In-depth reference manual for those reporting data to NEARS

Learn more about contributing factors.

• From Inspector to Investigator: Finding the Factors that Lead to Foodborne Outbreaks: Check out our new short training video on finding the contributing factors to outbreaks.
• What Are Contributing Factors?: Learn more about the practices and factors that lead to outbreaks.
• Contributing Factors: Preventable Causes of Foodborne Illness: View our infographic on contributing factors.
• Contributing Factor Definitions: Review technical definitions for the 30 contributing factors for foodborne illness outbreaks.

Explore other CDC data systems.

• Foodborne Illness Surveillance, Response, and Data Systems: Explore other surveillance systems that track and monitor reports of foodborne diseases in the United States.
• National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS): Report data on disease outbreaks caused by bacterial, viral, parasitic, chemical, toxin, and unknown agents, as well as foodborne and waterborne outbreaks of non-enteric disease.
• NORS Guidance for Contributing Factors (CF) in Foodborne Outbreak Reports [PDF – 215 KB]: Find information about identifying contributing factors and reporting them on the NORS electronic outbreak report form.

Learn more about outbreak investigations.

• Foodborne Outbreaks (CDC): Explore resources for public health officials investigating outbreaks.
• Guidelines for Foodborne Outbreak Response (Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response): Use this comprehensive information for investigating and controlling foodborne outbreaks, including model practices for investigations and the role of key organizations in outbreaks.

Explore the Food Code.

• Food Code (Food and Drug Administration): Develop or update food safety rules consistent with national food regulatory policy.