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The FDA’s 2025 report reveals that CORE+EP teams reviewed 69 food safety incidents, initiating 26 responses and issuing 11 public health advisories. Key investigations included outbreaks linked to cucumbers, prepared meals, and powdered infant formula. The report highlights the agency’s collaborative efforts with CDC and state agencies to prevent foodborne illness.
The Food and Drug Administration has released its 2025 annual report detailing the activities of the Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation, & Emergency Preparedness (CORE+EP) teams. The report confirms that investigative teams reviewed 69 incidents throughout the year, initiated 26 formal responses, and issued 11 public health advisories. These actions targeted foodborne illness outbreaks and adverse events linked to FDA-regulated foods, aiming to protect consumers through rapid detection and coordinated enforcement.
The CORE+EP teams, which were expanded in October 2024 to include emergency preparedness focused on food defense and supply chain monitoring, evaluated incidents ranging from potential outbreaks to confirmed adverse events. The CORE Signals and Surveillance Team analyzed these incidents, though not all were transferred to one of the four CORE Response Teams for follow-up. Responses were initiated only when an outbreak appeared to be caused by an FDA-regulated food, triggering a coordinated effort to contain the threat.
Among the high-profile investigations managed in 2025 were outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to cucumbers, Listeria monocytogenes infections tied to prepared meals, and a critical case of infant botulism associated with powdered infant formula. The report notes that while 69 incidents were reviewed, the number remains lower than the 137 incidents recorded in 2013, though the FDA did not explicitly analyze this year-over-year fluctuation in the summary text.
The agency also disclosed instances where products were linked to illnesses but no public advisory was issued, including mangoes, cilantro, parsley, spring mix, and sprouts. According to the FDA, these cases typically lacked sufficient information about the cause of illness during the period of ongoing public health risk. Confirmed vehicles for these incidents are reported on the CORE Investigation Table for public transparency.
Impact on Consumer Safety Protocols
The 11 public health advisories issued in 2025 represent critical interventions designed to provide consumers with actionable advice to avoid illness. When investigators identify the food source of a multistate outbreak, the FDA can take significant public health actions, such as recommending voluntary recalls or issuing outbreak advisories. These steps are described by the agency as powerful tools to protect public health by removing unsafe products from the market and informing the public.
Beyond advisories, the report highlights the FDA’s ability to pursue compliance actions through its Office of Compliance & Enforcement. These actions include warning letters, seizures, injunctions, and the addition of firms to import alerts. For instance, the infant botulism investigation linked to powdered formula resulted in warning letters to major retailers including Target Corporation, The Albertsons Companies, The Kroger Company, and Walmart, Inc., signaling a rigorous approach to supply chain accountability.
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Evolution of CORE+EP Mission
The CORE Network was originally established in 2011 to coordinate FDA responses to foodborne illness outbreaks. In October 2024, the agency expanded the network to include an emergency preparedness team, creating the current CORE+EP structure. This expansion added a focus on food defense, traceability, and supply chain monitoring activities, reflecting a broader mandate to prepare for and respond to complex food safety threats.
The mission of CORE+EP is to find, stop, and aid in the prevention of foodborne illness outbreaks. This is accomplished through a combination of disease surveillance, outbreak response, and post-response activities. The teams work in close collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local public health agencies, and international public health partners to ensure a unified response to cross-border and multistate threats.
“The work conducted by CORE during and following investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks and certain adverse events culminate in actions that can drive the prevention of additional illnesses and future outbreaks.”
— FDA 2025 CORE+EP Report
Gaps in Incident Reporting
While the report provides a detailed table of specific outbreaks and actions taken, it does not offer a comprehensive explanation for the fluctuation in incident numbers compared to previous years, such as the 137 incidents recorded in 2013. The reasons for the lower count in 2025 are not explicitly analyzed in the summary text, leaving it unclear whether this reflects improved prevention, changes in reporting criteria, or variations in surveillance capacity.
Additionally, the report notes that some investigations listed in the table may have been initiated in 2024 but did not result in an advisory until 2025. This overlap makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly when certain threats were first detected versus when public warnings were issued. The FDA states that the list is not exhaustive and that additional activities may be ongoing, meaning the full scope of enforcement actions for the reviewed incidents may not yet be public.
Ongoing Investigations and Compliance
The FDA indicates that additional activities may be ongoing for several incidents listed in the 2025 report. For the infant botulism case linked to powdered formula, the agency notes a continued investigation, suggesting that further regulatory actions or findings could be released in subsequent reports. The import alerts and warning letters issued to major retailers and food producers will likely require follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Public health partners, including the CDC and state agencies, will continue to monitor surveillance data for new signals of foodborne illness. The CORE Signals and Surveillance Team will remain active in analyzing potential outbreaks, with the next annual report expected to detail further responses and advisories as new incidents arise in the coming year.
Key Questions
What is the CORE+EP team?
The Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation, & Emergency Preparedness (CORE+EP) team is an FDA unit established to coordinate responses to foodborne illness outbreaks. It was expanded in 2024 to include emergency preparedness for food defense and supply chain monitoring.
Why were no advisories issued for some linked products?
According to the FDA, advisories were not issued for products like mangoes and cilantro because there was a lack of sufficient information about the cause of illnesses during the time of ongoing public health risk.
What actions did the FDA take regarding infant formula?
The FDA issued an outbreak advisory and recall announcements related to powdered infant formula linked to infant botulism. They also issued warning letters to major retailers including Target, Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons.
How many incidents were reviewed in 2025?
The FDA’s CORE+EP teams reviewed 69 incidents in 2025. These included potential outbreaks, confirmed outbreaks, and adverse events analyzed by the Signals Team.
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