Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 135

narrowly on the characteristics of agents, food vehicles,
and food production environments. The concept of root
causes was not a widely discussed theme throughout the
2017 Annual Meeting. Nevertheless, there are a number of
opportunities, both at future IAFP meetings and beyond,
to enhance communication of RCA findings to help food
safety professionals and other stakeholders identify and
address important weaknesses in their food systems.
*Note: The term "root cause analysis" is often used
interchangeably with "environmental assessment."
Similarly, "root cause" and "environmental antecedent"
are also synonyms. For simplicity, the terms "root
cause," "root cause analysis (RCA)," and "root cause
investigation" will be used throughout this article.
BACKGROUND ON ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
RCA is a collective term that identifies a wide range of
tools, techniques, and approaches aimed at identifying
the true causes of a problem, as well as how to eliminate
them (1). Like HACCP, RCA is based on systems theory
and emphasizes the need to understand the underlying
interactions within and among multiple interdependent
parts of an often complex system (3). The primary
goal of an RCA is to go beyond recognizing what went
wrong, to identifying why it went wrong and how to
prevent recurrences. In the food safety arena, RCA can
be and is used to examine outbreaks. It can also be used
to characterize other significant events, such as finished
product contamination events, that could have led to an
outbreak ("near misses"). RCA is performed in order to
efficiently identify the source of vulnerabilities in the food
system and how to address them. These findings should
then be communicated to other stakeholders to allow
them to learn from them, identify weaknesses in their
own food systems and ways to remedy them, and thereby
prevent future outbreaks. This understanding is essential
for a prevention-focused food safety system (9).
Because the primary goal of outbreak investigations by
public health agencies and the food industry is to stop
the outbreak, these investigations primarily focus on
identifying the food vehicle causing the outbreak and
how best to remove it from the market to avoid further
illnesses. The root causes of outbreaks may be related to
behavioral risk factors, management decisions, social and
cultural beliefs (8, 12), as well as economics (12), and
therefore go beyond identification of the implicated food
vehicle, but they are often not uncovered in the original
outbreak investigation.
RCA can vary greatly depending on the context of the
outbreak or 'near miss' event. The method and purpose
can take on different forms, depending on the setting,
food industry, and who is conducting the analysis (i.e.,
government agency vs. company). Although there is
variation in the complexity and practical application

of individual investigations, effective root cause
investigations share several key properties.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE ROOT
CAUSE ANALYSIS
Because it may be impossible to reconstruct the
factors that led to an outbreak after a significant period
of time has passed, timely initiation of an RCA is often
crucial for an effective investigation. In fact, preliminary
analysis of National Environmental Assessment
Reporting System (NEARS) data suggests that the
factors contributing to an outbreak are more likely to
be identified if the investigation begins shortly after
an outbreak is identified (4). Timeliness is especially
critical for outbreaks involving certain food commodities
such as fresh produce because of the short growing
season and the fact that fields may be out of harvest and/
or plowed under by the time an outbreak is identified
and an RCA initiated.
RCAs must be systematic, comprehensive, and focused
on continuous improvement based on investigations
that seek to identify what went wrong and why it went
wrong, as well as what worked in preventing the outbreak from becoming even worse. Additionally, RCAs
should be evidence-based and scalable across all levels
of the food system. They require an understanding of
supply chains, including the source, processing/manufacturing, packing, transportation, distribution, storage,
and point of final service/consumption. As such, they
require multidisciplinary teams comprised of people
with the appropriate technical expertise for the incident
being investigated. Depending on the particular facts of
the outbreak, the investigation team may consist of microbiologists, epidemiologists, sanitation experts, food
scientists, veterinarians, and other experts.
Communicating findings and lessons learned with the
appropriate technical audience throughout the course of
the investigation, as well as after the root cause(s) have
been identified, is key to preventing future outbreaks.
Outcomes from RCAs can benefit not only the company or
firm conducting the investigation, but also other important
stakeholders, including food safety experts in the food
industry, governmental agencies, and academia. By collating
the findings into a clear, concise, and transparent report at
the end of the RCA, even if the investigation fails to identify
all, or even any, of the root causes, valuable food safety
information can be efficiently shared throughout the industry
and beyond to inform the development of internal and
external guidance policy, as well as to identify areas of future
research. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that the
systematic evaluation of a food system during an RCA may
uncover other system weaknesses that did not contribute
to the current failure but that might give rise to food safety
issues in the future and therefore should be addressed.

March/April Food Protection Trends

135



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018

Peracetic Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide Post-dip Decay Kinetics on Red Meat and Poultry
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Raw Milk Consumption in the Pacific Northwest
Knowledge and Implementation of Good Agricultural Practices among Kentucky Fresh Produce Farmers
Visible Soil as an Indicator of Bacteria Concentration on Farmworkers’ Hands
Beyond the Bio - Jim Dickson
PDG Highlight - The Food Safety Culture Professional Development Group
General Interest Paper Leveraging Current Opportunities to Communicate Lessons Learned from Root Cause Analysis to Prevent Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
General Interest Paper Safe Food for Canadians Regulations: Is Your Business Ready?
Industry Products
Coming Events
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Cover1
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Cover2
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 89
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 90
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 91
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 92
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 93
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 94
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 95
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Peracetic Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide Post-dip Decay Kinetics on Red Meat and Poultry
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 97
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 98
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 99
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 100
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 101
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 102
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 103
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Raw Milk Consumption in the Pacific Northwest
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 105
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 106
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 107
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 108
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 109
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 110
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Knowledge and Implementation of Good Agricultural Practices among Kentucky Fresh Produce Farmers
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 112
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 113
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 114
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 115
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 116
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 117
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 118
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 119
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 120
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 121
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Visible Soil as an Indicator of Bacteria Concentration on Farmworkers’ Hands
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 123
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 124
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 125
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 126
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 127
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 128
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 129
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Beyond the Bio - Jim Dickson
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 131
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 132
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - PDG Highlight - The Food Safety Culture Professional Development Group
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - General Interest Paper Leveraging Current Opportunities to Communicate Lessons Learned from Root Cause Analysis to Prevent Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 135
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 136
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 137
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 138
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 139
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - General Interest Paper Safe Food for Canadians Regulations: Is Your Business Ready?
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 141
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Industry Products
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 143
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 144
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 145
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 146
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - 147
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Coming Events
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Cover3
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20240304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20231112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20221112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20211112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200807
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com