In conjunction with its recently proposed rule, "Focused Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration" (click here to see our Dec. 20 article on the proposed rule), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Dec. 24 released an updated version of the Food Defense Mitigation Strategies Database (MSD). The Database provides a range of preventive measures that food companies may choose to implement to better protect their facility, personnel, products, and operations from intentional contamination.

The MSD, one of several tools developed by the FDA for the food industry to help protect our nation’s food supply from deliberate acts of contamination or tampering, has been updated to include a new category, Key Activity Types. The category includes four new nodes:

1. Bulk Liquid Receiving and Loading
2. Liquid Storage and Handling
3. Mixing and Similar Activities
4. Secondary Ingredient Handling

Additional information about FDA’s Food Defense activities can be found on the FDA’s Food Defense Website.