Objective  To investigate the characteristics and trend of food-borne disease outbreaks in Qingdao city between 2011 and 2016 and to provide evidences for rapid management of food-borne disease outbreaks.

  Methods  We collected data on reported food-borne disease outbreaks in Qingdao city between 2011 and 2016 through Qingdao Municipal Public Health Emergency Surveillance System and conducted analyses with descriptive epidemiology.

  Results  A total of 277 food-borne disease outbreaks were reported during the 6-year period and the yearly number of the outbreaks were 12, 22, 49, 36, 49, and 109, with the number of sufferers of 228, 285, 446, 474, 377, and 503, respectively. The causes were not ascertained for 59.21% (164) of the reported outbreaks and 26.35% (73) of the outbreaks were caused by pathogenic microorganism contamination, of which, 32.88% (24) were related to Vibrio parahaemolyticus contamination. Most of the outbreaks (70.76%, 196) occurred during July to September of a year. For all the outbreaks, 25.27% (70) involved dining at restaurants and 23.47% (65) occurred among persons engaged in organized tour, and 36.10% (100) and 23.10% (64) were correlated with improper operations or managements in restaurants and collective canteens.

  Conclusion  The incidence of food-borne diseases was at a high level in Qingdao city between 2011 and 2016. Food services and tourist groups are key concerns for prevention and control of food-borne diseases and specific concern should be paid to contamination of food by Vibrio parahaemolyticus.