Previously known as CORE Network, CORE+EP was established in 2024 as part of a government reorganization to protect public health and oversee food defense, traceability, and supply chain initiatives. CORE+EP offers weekly updates on foodborne illnesses and adverse events across the United States and works in coordination with agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. Their most recent report summarizes incidents investigated within the FDA Human Foods Program involving FDA-regulated food.
As part of their investigation process, the Signals Team first investigates incidents that could lead to outbreaks by monitoring emerging outbreaks and disease surveillance. These investigations involve reviewing data from food firms, including past inspections, sampling results, and other records. If an outbreak is linked to FDA-regulated food, the CORE Response Team takes over to determine the FDA’s response efforts, including identifying a specific ingredient associated with illnesses. Once the ingredient/product is identified, the CORE team takes public health action, issuing public health advisories or recommending voluntary recalls to companies associated with an outbreak. These public health actions could result in warning letters, seizures, and the addition of firms to import alerts. For products that are not FDA-regulated, the investigation is designed for other pertinent agencies (e.g., USDA).
In 2024, the Signals Team evaluated 72 incidents, of which 26 responses were initiated (FDA-Regulated Food), and 10 advisories were issued. Half of the advisories involved fresh produce (Table 1), all of which resulted in outbreak advisories and recall announcements.
Notably, cucumbers were associated with multiple regulatory actions across different firms. In one case, the FDA issued a warning letter. For imported cucumbers, a nationwide import alert (99-35) was issued, under which foreign firms are subject to detention without physical examination (DWPE).
Advisories are issued when the food vehicle is identified either during the outbreak or afterward. Sometimes, a product linked to illnesses is identified, but no advisory is issued because there is no specific actionable advice for consumers, such as if the product is no longer available. For example, in 2024, produce-related items on that list included leafy greens like romaine lettuce, imported parsley, and spinach. Additional items included jalapeno peppers and sprouts.
Reference:
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026). CORE 2024 annual report. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/core-2024-annual-report