Development and Maintenance of Human and Animal Food Rapid Response Teams

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Project Summary-Abstract for the Food Protection Rapid Response Team The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has a long history of working cooperatively with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on food safety issues and shares the commitment to the development of an integrated food safety system. There is a very diverse group of agencies, expertise, disciplines, capabilities and sources of authority that protect our food supply, our citizens and the economic benefits of a safe food supply. The Missouri Rapid Response Team (MRRT) combines those capabilities to respond quickly, efficiently and effectively when an emergency threatens the food we eat. The MRRT includes DHSS, FDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The MRRT also has strong partnerships and proven capabilities from different responses coupled with a commitment to continuous improvement. The MRRT proposes to offer its expertise by continuing a rapid center for subject matter experts who can help not only in Missouri, but also reach out as part of a network to help the entire nation, while also searching for opportunities to create new subject matter expert capabilities. Sharing expertise offers the opportunity to detect and stop contamination sooner. Large foodborne outbreaks involve multiple jurisdictions. To meet that challenge, the MRRT will continue to expand its outreach to the 115 local public health agencies which include more educational opportunities, training and assistance in emergency response. The MRRT will also maintain its work to incorporate lessons learned from responses and exercises and use proven, measurable data to apply it to improved capabilities to strive for continuous improvement. In addition, Missouri will continue its work to keep a strong surveillance system so disease can be detected quickly, while also striving to find and share information to prevent illness and contamination. The MRRT will contribute information to other states and partners through a variety of venues while also lending assistance and expertise to national efforts and workgroups to improve and add to best practices and apprise the larger community about problems and solutions in foodborne outbreaks and contamination.