Improving Investigations

At a glance

Preventing foodborne outbreaks in restaurants requires us to know how and why they happen. During an outbreak investigation, an environmental assessment is an important part of uncovering how and why the outbreak happened. Use our resources to improve investigations in your community.

Person holding a paper in a restaurant as part of an outbreak investigation.

Restaurants as systems

During environmental assessments, investigators apply system theory to help find clues in the food safety system to understand and address the outbreak's environmental causes. These causes are also known as contributing factors and root causes (environmental antecedents).

Investigator holding a clipboard talks to a chef in a restaurant kitchen.

Environmental Assessments

Use environmental assessments to respond to outbreaks of foodborne illness.
Flow chart diagram

System Theory

Learn how focusing on the food safety system helps to identify how and why illness outbreaks happen.
Graphic of a hamburger with a thermometer in the meat.

Contributing Factors

Identify contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks to help stop and prevent them.
Icons representing foods, people, equipment, economics, and processes.

Root Causes of Outbreaks

Use our resources to identify root causes of foodborne illness outbreaks.

Learning resources

The skills needed to investigate outbreaks of foodborne illness in restaurants are different from those needed to inspect restaurants.

Image of two food workers from a training.

Training

Learn how to address environmental causes of foodborne illnesses with our free food safety training.
Food workers in a kitchen.

Investigation Summaries in Plain Language

Explore key findings about the environmental component of outbreak investigations.

Data and surveillance

Environmental assessment data can help food safety programs:

  • Identify environmental causes of outbreaks in their jurisdiction
  • Take follow-up action to reduce or prevent future foodborne illness outbreaks
NEARS graphic

National Environmental Assessment Reporting System

Use NEARS to capture environmental assessment data from foodborne illness outbreak investigations

More information

Foodborne outbreaks (CDC)

National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) (CDC)

Food Code (Food and Drug Administration)

Environmental assessments triggered by foodborne illness (Food and Drug Administration)

Guidelines for foodborne outbreak response (Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response)

Learn more about our work to improve practices‎

Use our resources to improve food safety practices in restaurants, banquet facilities, schools, and other institutions.
Improving Practices
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Content Source:
National Center for Environmental Health