HFP Constituent Update
FDA Releases the CORE+EP 2025 Annual Report: Investigations of Foodborne Outbreaks and Adverse Events in FDA-Regulated Foods
View on the FDA website
October 6, 2026
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation, & Emergency Preparedness (CORE+EP) released its annual report summarizing the investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks and certain adverse events in FDA-regulated human foods for the 2025 calendar year.
The FDA’s CORE+EP, originally established in 2011 as the CORE Network, expanded in October 2024 to include an emergency preparedness team focused on food defense, traceability, and supply chain monitoring activities. One of CORE+EP’s missions is to find, stop, and aid in the prevention of foodborne illness outbreaks. This is accomplished through disease surveillance, outbreak response, post-response activities, and collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local public health agencies, and international public health partners. Every year, CORE teams evaluate and respond to numerous foodborne outbreaks and certain adverse events linked to FDA-regulated products.
In 2025, CORE teams evaluated 69 incidents, responded to 26, and issued advisories for 11. These numbers remain similar to those from previous years, with 72 incidents evaluated, 26 responses, and 10 advisories issued in 2024. In 2025, CORE investigations resulted in numerous public health actions, including recalls, public health advisories, warning letters, and the addition of firms to import alerts.
The 2025 annual report highlights a few noteworthy outbreaks: a historical outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to cucumbers, an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to prepared meals that challenged investigators, and an outbreak of infant botulism linked to a specific powdered infant formula brand.
Find up-to-date information on outbreak-related activities and investigations on the CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, FDA’s Public Health Advisories, and publications.
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