Borderline Differences: How Canada and the U.S. Approach Foodborne Outbreak Investigations

When: June 26, 2026 11am - 12pm Central (12pm - 1pm Eastern)

In an era of globalized food supply chains, the boundaries of food safety often blur. While Canada and the United States share closely integrated markets, their regulatory frameworks and investigative approaches to foodborne illnesses retain distinct characteristics. This webinar provides an in-depth exploration of how public health agencies on both sides of the border detect, investigate, and communicate during foodborne outbreak events.

Join us for a 1 hour lunch and learn webinar that looks at the collaborative efforts that keep our cross-border food systems safe. This session is designed for public health professionals, food safety regulators, and industry stakeholders looking to understand the mechanics of international outbreak response.

Key Discussion Topics

• Navigating the Regulatory Landscape: A comparative breakdown of the roles and responsibilities within Canada (CFIA, Health Canada, PHAC) and the United States (FDA, USDA, CDC), highlighting how each nation structures its authority to manage food safety crises.

• Surveillance and Detection: An examination of how both countries utilize national surveillance platforms and advanced technologies to identify potential outbreaks in real-time.

• Standardized Investigative Procedures: An analysis of the striking similarities in case interviewing, epidemiological techniques, traceback investigations, and environmental sampling procedures that allow for seamless cooperation.

• Cross-Border Collaboration in Action: A deep dive into a real-world case study illustrating how Canada and the U.S. synchronize their efforts—leveraging each other’s strengths in lab testing, sampling, and epidemiology to close complex, multi-jurisdictional outbreaks.

• Risk Communication Strategies: A comparative review of how each jurisdiction manages public alerts, recalls, and health advisories, and how transparency and speed remain the cornerstones of public trust.

Instructor

Samantha Bolten, PhD., Food Safety Programs & Investigations Manager, Mérieux NutriSciences Expert Partners - North America

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A minimum of 5 students is needed to run this course.