The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, abbreviated CDC, is the United States’ national public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. It conducts surveillance and research on infectious diseases, foodborne illness outbreaks, chronic disease, and environmental health threats, issuing guidance that shapes practice worldwide. Its food safety work includes tracking pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli through networks like FoodNet, investigating multistate outbreaks, and publishing data that drive regulation. During health emergencies it coordinates the national response. For food professionals, CDC reports are an authoritative source on outbreak causes and prevention.