CENTER FOR FOODBORNE ILLNESS RESEARCH & PREVENTION INC

Goal #1: Reduce the incidence of foodborne illness, especially for the vulnerable populations.

Goal #2: Learn more about foodborne illnesses -- their sources and emerging trends (antibiotic resistance), as well as their short- and long-term health/economic impacts.

Goal #3: Empower consumers with the food safety information that they need to protect themselves and their loved ones from foodborne diseases.

CFI is committed to improving food safety for American consumers. We have been effective in working with other national stakeholders to achieve food safety goals, and we've developed a strong reputation for adhering to evidence-informed research. We believe that this strategy has provided stronger food protections for American consumers.

Currently, CFI serves on these food safety forums:

Alliance for a Stronger FDA, Washington, D.C.

Food and Drug Administration's Science Board, Washington, D.C.

Keep Antibiotics Working, Chicago, IL

National Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry Inspection, USDA, Washington D.C.

Make Our Food Safe coalition, Washington, D.C.

Partnership for Food Safety Education, Washington, D.C.

Safe Food Coalition, Washington, D.C.

Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR), founding member, Washington, D.C.

Stakeholder Forum on Antibiotic Resistance -- coordinated by the Infectious Diseases of America Society -- Arlington, VA

Given the global nature of America's food supply, it is clear that we need a more holistic and sustainable risk-based approach to food and food safety. This new paradigm must focus on prevention and integrate human, animal and environmental health. CFI's dedicated group of experts envision this new paradigm and work diligently to build a strong, science-based, risk-based food safety system/network for America.

As an all-volunteer organization, CFI's credibility is high, but we know that we do not have the capabilities to implement all of the changes needed in the future. However, we also know that by working together, people can effect change, so our main strategy is to collaborate with others to achieve common food safety goals.

For more information on our work, visit the Annual Highlights section (under What We Do) on our website: www.foodborneillness.org

CFI has accomplished a lot over the past ten years, but we also realize that there is much that still needs to be done. For example, our nation must improve its monitoring of antibiotics in people and animals if we hope to protect important drugs for the future. Likewise, given the globalization of the food supply, our nation must work on several levels to safeguard our food supply, while at the same time, we must expand food safety education in our schools and communities.

CFI has listed the following accomplishments:

Enactment of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (2011)
Encouraging new data-sharing programs at three federal food safety agencies, starting in 2007 and continuing through the present.
Expansion of USDA surveillance of pathogenic contamination
(USDA declaration of six additional E. coli bacteria as adulterants in
2012)
Providing educational outreach via our website and in our presentations
Providing public comments on proposed federal food safety regulations
Publishing two white papers and several fact sheets on three topics:
Children and Foodborne Illness (2014)
Long-term health outcomes of foodborne disease (2009)
Impact of Culture-Independent Diagnostic Testing (2015)
Securing new labeling for mechanically tenderized beef products (2015)

Encouraging USDA to revise the mandatory meat and poultry label
Raising awareness about antibiotic resistance bacteria that may be transmitted through food