Standard 5: Traceback & Trace-forward Lessons from MinnesotaCarrie E. Rigdon, PhDRapid Response Team Supervisor

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Tuesday, March 11, 20141:30 – 3:30PM

How will you benefit from this session?

• Traceback/trace-forward (TB/TF) investigations help solve outbreaks

= preventing illness, saving lives• Save time, be more efficient,

coordinate better= save $ and ↓ extra work

• Help meet the standard

Audience TB/TF Gauge

Show of hands…– Have TB/TF procedures

already?– Actively training and

using?– Need to improve

proficiency?– Conducting

informational TBs?

Let’s look at the Standard…

“Coordinate the traceback and trace-forward of food implicated in

an illness, injury, or outbreak”

What key words do you see?

Communication and coordination are foundational

• Meet with your federal, state, and locals• Set expectations – especially with Epi and EH– What are your triggers?– How do you define “implicated”?– What info do you need? What info

do they need?• Have a communications plan

or SOP

Std 5 & Std 7 Connection: Traceback outreach with industry

• Inform establishments of traceback importance and procedures

• Discuss expectations and legal/statutory basis for records collection

• Add industry QA/Food Safety Directors’ contacts to your Std. 5 contact list

Resource: Best Practices ManualTracebacks Chapter

• Regulatory and informational tracebacks• Typical problems and potential solutions• Resources list complete with URL links• Great examples for TB diagrams,

timelines, and data collectiontools

Tip: Create flow diagrams for your SOPs and procedures

Tip: Add templates and job aids to SOP

Developed by MI Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development

Tip: Use legal references in all commun- ications

Additional Resources• References– FDA Investigations Operations Manual 8.3.5.5– FDA Guide to Traceback of Fresh Fruits and

Vegetables– CIFOR Guidelines

• Training– ORA U traceback courses– FDA ER220 traceback course

National Initiatives• Improving traceback coordination in multi-

state outbreak investigations– Palantir pilot w/FDA and States– FoodSHIELD pilot w/FDA and States (PFP Recalls

& Response WG project)• Setting industry standards for

traceability – IFT Global Food Traceability Center– GS1

Questions?

Contact Information

Carrie Rigdon

Rapid Response Team Supervisor

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Email: carrie.rigdon@state.mn.us