Although deliberate attacks on our food supply are rare, the consequences are potentially catastrophic and go beyond injury or death. Consequences may include profound economic damage, loss of consumer confidence and widespread public fear. In recognition of the risks, FSIS encourages establishments to voluntarily adopt and implement a Food Defense Plan (FDP), and to conduct training and exercises to ensure preparedness. The following four-pronged approach offers guidance for developing an effective food defense program.
Step 1: Develop (or reassess) an FDP. Creating or reassessing the FDP entails assessing vulnerabilities and developing cost-effective mitigation measures. The FDP should be documented and include security measures for at least the following: water, ice, receiving, storage, processing and shipping. Also, it is important to consider the full range of threats. Though an attack by foreign extremists may be what first comes to mind, an act by a disgruntled employee is more likely. Mitigation strategies can take many forms but may include restricting access to ingredients, controls and equipment to authorized personnel, installing additional lighting and cameras to enhance surveillance and visibility, using tamper-evident devices and conducting routine but varied inspections of the facility, equipment and inventory to identify anomalies.