What’s in Your Food?

A Case for the Disease Detectives

By Bwalya Lungu

Abstract

This directed case study is based on an actual multi-state foodborne illness outbreak that occurred in the United States from October 2015 through January 2016. The outbreak involved consumption of food contaminated by E.coli STEC O26 and was traced to a popular restaurant. The case is designed to outline the steps taken by public health officials to identify the source of the outbreak. Students learn about the tests required to identify STEC O26, the surveillance tools used to determine the extent of the outbreak, measures taken to control it, and the challenges investigators faced (e.g., poor record keeping, faulty memories from disease victims, multiple possible food sources, etc.). The case is suitable for upper-level undergraduate science classes in epidemiology or food microbiology.

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Date Posted

03/17/2022

Overview

Objectives

List the common symptoms of foodborne diseases and identify the severe symptoms associated with the foodborne illness in this story.
Discuss why foodborne diseases are underreported and how this impacts surveillance reports and development of prevention tools and methods.
Define and differentiate between presumptive and confirmatory tests.
Identify the local, state, and federal agencies involved in foodborne outbreak situations.
Discuss the role of the various agencies during a foodborne outbreak.
Discuss the role of investigators, food establishments, and the food manufacturing industry during an outbreak.
Discuss some of the challenges involved in identifying an outbreak and outbreak source.

Keywords

E. coli; outbreak; STEC O26; public health; foodborne illness; laboratory; epidemiology; food poisoning; FDA; USDA; CDC

Subject Headings

Epidemiology

Food Science / Technology

Microbiology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate upper division, Graduate, Professional (degree program)

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

Regulatory issues

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Analysis (Issues), Directed, Discussion