Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence

The Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence build capacity in other health departments by developing and providing online and in-person resources, training, and assistance for enteric disease surveillance and outbreak investigations.

The program was established in 2012 under the authority of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was signed into law on January 4, 2011 to improve prevention, surveillance, and response to outbreaks of foodborne illness. In the legislation, CDC is charged with designating Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence at state health departments in partnership with academic institutions to identify and implement best practices in foodborne disease surveillance and to serve as a resource for public health professionals at state, local, and regional levels.