Table 1: Foodborne Illness Outbreaks: Roles

Industry:

• Ensures that safe food and food products are produced, manufactured, imported, stored and distributed to consumers
• Identifies potential issues and assist with food safety investigations
• Initiates or responds to direction to implement a recall

Provinces/Territories (including municipalities):

• Leads investigation of human illness outbreaks within boundaries including the epidemiological investigation
• Releases communications of issues with respect to human health issues, including notification to the public. Some jurisdictions have authority to conduct recalls

PHAC :

• The usual first point of contact at the federal level for foodborne illness outbreaks
• Public health surveillance
• Lead during epidemiological investigation when cases occur in multiple P/Ts or if requested by a P/T
• Releases communications of issues with a human health impact, including notification to the public

HC:

• Establishes food safety standards and policies
• Decision-making with respect to risk assessment process
• Releases communication of issues related to food safety

CFIA :

• Contributes to the investigation and control of foodborne outbreaks through its food safety investigation and recall and compliance and enforcement activities
• Issues notifications to public when specific food has been identified (CFIA, Decision-making, Guidelines: Public Warning)

* Primary Sources: Canada Foodborne Illness Outbreak Response Protocol, 2006 and Memorandum of Understanding for Common Issues Related to Human Health (HC, PHAC and CFIA), 2008