Food Protection Rapid Response Team

Project Summary/AbstractThe Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) proposes to continue itsmentorship with other states' RRTs; coordinate outbreak response with FDA CORE andlocal health departments that have jurisdiction over retail sales of food; establishcommunication protocols with food industries in Texas; further develop SOPs andembed Texas Rapid Response team (TRRT) responsibilities into the day to dayactivities of the state staff. Additionally, DSHS will undertake a capability assessmenteach year and develop and update an improvement plan for the TRRT; schedule andconduct at least one exercise or respond to an incident, including after action reviewseach year; participate in the development and refinement of the RRT Best PracticesManual and post required documents on FOODSHIELD and on applicable DSHSwebpages, and; represent the TRRT on national RRT workgroups and at local andnational meetings. DSHS will continue to refine and enhance the development of theTexas Rapid Response Team so that in the event of a food borne illness outbreak, theTRRT will be able to respond quickly and effectively.