CIFOR Industry Guidelines

The CIFOR Foodborne Illness Response Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Managers of Food Establishments (Industry Guidelines) are voluntary recommendations for owners, operators, and managers of restaurants and other retail food establishments (“Industry”) to clarify Industry’s role in a foodborne illness outbreak investigation. The Industry Guidelines and its tools help Industry take an active and educated role in outbreak response, thereby reducing negative economic impact to their businesses. This product was developed by the CIFOR Industry Workgroup, a public/private partnership of experts from government and the food industry. The Industry Guidelines are not intended to replace company guidelines or local, state, or federal regulations or procedures. Instead, the Industry Guidelines are a reference document to create Industry procedures where none may exist, complement existing procedures to fill gaps and update establishment-specific procedures, and to develop specific training for staff.

Who should use it: Owners, operators and managers of restaurants in a foodborne illness outbreak investigation. It is also helpful for government investigators of foodborne illness outbreaks involving smaller food businesses.

View and download the CIFOR Industry Guidelines. Individual chapters include:

• Outbreak Investigation Preparation — Recommendations for Food Establishments
• Food Establishment Self-Assessment
• Media
• Store Closure and Reopening
• Control Measures
• Flow Diagram for Guidelines and Tools
• Terms and Definitions

Tools include:

• Tool 1- Illness Complaint Tracking Log Form
• Tool 2 - Customer Foodborne Illness Complaint Form
• Tool 3A - Menu Ingredient Listing Form
• Tool 3B - Example Menu Ingredient Listing
• Tool 4 - Employee Communications Meeting
• Tool 5 - Employee List Form
• Tool 6 - Employee Health Assessment Form
• Tool 7A - Employee Illness Decision Guide
• Tool 7B - Example of Employee Illness Decision Quick Guide For Person-In-Charge (For Non-Highly Susceptible Population Establishments)
• Tool 7C - Poster: My Story Could Change Your Life
• Tool 7D - Poster: Do I Feel Well Today?
• Tool 7E - Poster: I Should Have Stayed Home
• Tool 7F - Poster: Would You Want These People In Your Kitchen?
• Tool 7G - Poster: Don’t Let What Happened To Me Happen To You
• Tool 8 - Product Sampling Procedure
• Tool 9 - Sample Chain of Custody Form
• Tool 10 - Distributor and Supplier Information Form
• Tool 11 - Sample Food Establishment Food Safety Checklist Form
• Tool 12 - Food Flow Chart Form
• Tool 13 - Example Employee Workstation Schematic
• Tool 14 - Sample Re-Opening Self Inspection Checklist Form

For more information, contact info@cifor.us.