Source Critique 7

Detailed Literature Review

Source 7, FDA Trend Analysis Report on the Occurrence of Foodborne Illness Risk Factors in Selected Institutional Foodservice, Restaurant, and Retail Food Store Facility Types (1998 – 2008)

 

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodSafety/RetailFoodProtection/FoodborneIllnessandRiskFactorReduction/RetailFoodRiskFactorStudies/UCM224152.pdf (Source)

 

Trend Analysis

 

Purpose of the Source

This source was very informative and had an interesting perspective on trend analysis. The article was about the FDA performing trend analysis over a period of ten years on the control of foodborne illness risk factors. These factors were measured from nine different facility types. These types were broken down into three different segments; Institutional Food Services (such as hospitals and elementary schools), Restaurants (both fast and full service), and Retail Food Stores (such as deli marts and produce markets). Furthermore this source provided richly detailed data tables and graphs depicting the data that was collected for trend analysis over a ten year period of time.

Strengths of the Technique

The purpose of the following list is to identify the strong suits of the method of trend analysis and why it is effective in predicting future events. (There were none discussed within this article)

Weaknesses of the Technique

The purpose of the following list is to identify the weaknesses of the method of trend analysis. (There were none discussed within this article, although it did mention that some things could be time sensitive which might be considered a weakness of trend analysis). Furthermore the fact that this was a ten year study could perhaps be construed as a weakness in that it utilized data that had been collected over a decade.

Steps

-       Collecting data (from 2 five year periods: 1998-2003 & 2003-1998)

-       Compiling and graphing the data

-        Analyzing the data

-        Making connections amongst the data gathered (finding the trends)

-       Forming a prediction on the trend at hand based on evidence

Purpose of the Technique

The purpose of trend analysis is to collect data and make a prediction about the future. The data that is being collected for trend analysis usually will span a decent time period in order to see the fluctuation of change in patterns or trends. “Any study designed to measure trends requires analysis of the subject matter over a period of time. No single point in time can be used to derive conclusions. Rather, it is a review and evaluation of the data collected at several intervals that provide the basis for drawing conclusions”(FDA 6).

Comparison

This source is different from my other sources in that the study at hand is very indepth in terms or data tables and graphical representation. One is really able to see the change in trends of occurrences of food borne illness risk factors in the various settings chosen to study.

Most Informative

I really enjoyed the examples that the author includes in this paper. It really brought the concepts visually to life. This study was neat in that you were able to visually see the various changes at hand through the studies use of data sets and graphs.

About the Source Author

This study was put together by the FDA National Retail Food Team.

Source Reliability

Your source reliability rating according to the Trust Evaluation Worksheet for online sources: http://daxrnorman.googlepages.com/WebSitesYouCanTrust-Oct08.pdf

Source Reliability: 48.14 (Very High Credibility)

Source Critiqued By

Bryan T. Eisenberg, Beisenbe5@gmail.com, Mercyhurst College, Erie PA, Advanced Analytic Techniques Course,” July 30^rd  2011 .

Sources Cited by This Source

Managing Food Safety: A Regulator’s Manual for Applying HACCP Principles to Risk- Based Retail and Food Service Inspections and Evaluating Voluntary Food Safety Management Systems http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/RetailFoodProtection/ManagingFoodSafetyHACCPPrincipl es/Operators/default.htm

Reinventing Food Regulations (1996), National Performance Report http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/library/rsreport/foodreg.html

Report of the FDA Retail Food Program Database of Foodborne Illness Risk Factors (2000) http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/RetailFoodProtection/FoodborneIllnessandRiskFactorRedu ction/RetailFoodRiskFactorStudies/ucm123544.htm

Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks --- United States, 1988—1992, Center for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0004424/.htm