Table 2.

Standard versus FDA CORE ICS roles and responsibilities during foodborne illness outbreak response activities

Standard	FDA CORE
Incident Commander Leads the response and allocates and designates the use of resources.	Incident Lead Coordinator The main point of contact and coordinator for all FDA headquarter offices, as well as the point of contact for external agencies, such as CDC, USDA, and state partners, when applicable. This role facilitates meetings, reviews web posts, drafts executive summaries for leadership, and ensures appropriate delegation of responsibilities.
Operations Chief Managing the staff and operations to complete objectives for mission. Determine additional resource needs.	Operations Chief Coordinates all ongoing field operations, including investigations and inspections at firms impacted by the incident, serves as the focal point for all traceback investigational activities, tracks incident objectives, and communicates the status of each objective to the entire incident group.
Planning Chief Maintains proper documentation of information reported by all section chiefs.	Planning Chief Coordinates information sharing between the myriad of agency offices participating in the investigation and ensures proper documentation and CORE-specific resource allocation.
Logistics Section Chief Coordinates and assigns resources to complete objectives.	Logistics Section Absorbed through administrative channels and is managed by existing ORA field offices to complete assigned objectives.
Public Information Officer Drafts and submits public communications of an incident and is the main point of contact for media outlets	CORE Communication Specialist Drafts and coordinates clearance of communications for the public about an outbreak. Consolidates and distributes all modified ICS 209 forms (daily reports) to investigational partners and leadership.