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  1. Science & Research (Food)

Research Program on Foodborne Illness Outbreaks and Food Recall Communications

Social and behavioral scientists within FDA’s Human Foods Program lead a research program aimed at enhancing FDA’s communication on foodborne illness outbreaks and food recalls.

Research Program on Foodborne Illness Outbreaks and Food Recall Communications: An Overview and Highlights of Findings (PDF:3.72 MB)

Studies that have been completed under this research program include:

Outbreak Advisory Template Studies

  • Safety Alert and Outbreak Advisory Template Testing: In July 2021, a total of 36 online, one-on-one, in-depth interviews were conducted with U.S. consumers (18+ years old), to test FDA safety alert and outbreak advisory templates. Based on findings from this study, FDA has updated its Outbreak Advisory template (e.g., increased plain language, moved the product name and images to the top, and incorporated concise bullets).
  • Focus Groups on Food Recall Communication: In June 2023, a total of eight online focus groups (4-6 participants per group) were conducted with U.S. consumers (18+ years old), to better understand consumers’ experiences with food recalls and to gather feedback on FDA’s updated outbreak advisory template. FDA is using findings from this study to further strengthen its Outbreak Advisory messaging.

Consumer Food Recall Surveys

  • A survey questionnaire repository (question bank) was developed to facilitate conducting “quick-turnaround” consumer surveys during an ongoing food recall or foodborne illness outbreak.
    • Each survey is designed to take approximately 15 minutes, which allows 50 – 60 questions on a survey.
    • The questions on each survey may cover topics including consumer awareness and perception of a recall/outbreak, their possession of recalled products and behaviors during the recall, emotions, information sources and trust, consumer regular consumption of food products associated with the recall/outbreak, demographics, and covariates.
    • Data are collected using a consumer web panel (Dynata).
      • The sample size for each survey is 1,200 respondents. Quotas are used to balance the sample to the US population demographics.

Completed Surveys

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