About Us

Introduction

Traditionally, public health agency responses to foodborne-illness outbreaks and other food or feed-related
incidents have been complex and time consuming. Usually these responses involve collecting epidemiological
data from ill individuals, tracing product distribution from farm-to-fork, seeking modes of contamination,
collecting and analyzing samples, and writing detailed reports. When combined, these activities consume a
significant amount of time and resources for all agencies involved.

Without coordination, there is a high probability of duplicative efforts. The Utah Rapid Response Team
(URRT) has been developed to assist in overcoming the challenges associated with food/feed-borne illness
outbreak responses. The primary goal of the URRT is to increase response efficiency, communication between
agencies, and the overall effectiveness of responses involving human and animal food safety in the state of
Utah.

The URRT was established in 2019 through a cooperative agreement between the Utah Department of
Agriculture and Food and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration. Utah is one of many states that maintain
an RRT. Rapid Response Teams throughout the U.S. actively share lessons-learned regarding responses,
participates in national workgroups, and provide training opportunities.

Building relationships and recognizing the value of the combined strength of everyone in the food service,
manufacturing and distribution sector will be the core value with which we develop and maintain a strong
Rapid Response Team.


Purpose

The URRT’s primary purpose is to respond quickly to food-related illness outbreaks, and other food or feed-related incidents in order to protect human and animal health. The URRT's primary objectives focus on identifying and controlling the threat(s) to human/animal health and not necessarily follow-up compliance or enforcement action. Individual participating agencies and private sector participants have individualized specific roles and objectives to the food sector they work with.

The URRT Steering Committee collaborates on developing the most effective ways to work together during food and feed illness outbreak response efforts. In addition, by using the skills and resources available, the URRT will improve response capacity and increase training and practice exercise effectiveness.


Scope

The URRT uses a proactive approach through training, exercises, and a continual exchange of information
and collaboration that build relationships and increase response capacity.

The URRT is an "all hazards" team, meaning that although responses will be associated with food and/or
feed, the initial hazards that warranted the response may be wide ranging. Some of these hazards may
include:

  • Human or Animal Food Illness Outbreaks
  • Natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, wildfires, etc.)
  • Contamination events (both unintentional and intentional)
  • Industrial accidents
  • Planned Events

The URRT coordinates response efforts with its food safety partners such as the Utah Department of Health,
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, local health jurisdictions, state laboratories, federal agencies, and
private sector partners and business owners in order to carry out an effective response. Through the sharing
of response efforts and leveraging resources among Epidemiology, Laboratory, and Environmental Health,
the URRT will be able to identify and respond to threats to public health more efficiently and effectively.

The URRT aims to protect public health by identifying contributing factors for why the incident occurred and
taking action to contain them by eliminating their root cause or improving health and sanitation conditions
associated with food handling practices. The URRT also works to prevent further distribution and sale of
implicated product by coordinating regulatory actions such as recalls, embargoes, administrative detentions,
and other actions.