What is the primary role of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service during foodborne illness outbreaks?

The primary role of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service during foodborne illness outbreaks is to identify sources and control the spread of illness. This function is crucial as it involves investigating outbreaks to determine the pathogen involved, tracing the food items responsible, and implementing control measures to prevent further cases of illness. The goal is to protect public health by ensuring that any contaminated food is identified and removed from the market and that the source of the outbreak is addressed to prevent recurrence.

While issuing recalls is an important aspect of food safety and is often part of the follow-up actions after identifying a source, it is just one step in the broader process of outbreak investigation. Handling customer complaints and supervising food service operations pertain more to different aspects of food safety management and customer service rather than directly addressing the public health concerns associated with foodborne illness outbreaks. Thus, identifying sources and controlling illness spread is central to the mission of ensuring the safety of the nation’s food supply.