Food Defense: Protecting the Food Supply From Intentional Harm

Why Create a Food Defense Plan?

How could you create havoc in the food supply system?● Do you have workers who may have

a grudge?● Think like an individual that would

like to harm your operation.

Welcome and Introductions

What you will learn today:

By the end of the training you will be able to tell neighbors why you and they need a food defense plan.

By the end of the day you will be able to write a food defense plan for your business and have a draft plan in hand.

By the end of the day you will be able to write a response plan for your business and have a draft plan in hand.

Course Overview

Vulnerability AssessmentCountermeasure

DevelopmentWriting a Food Defense

PlanDeveloping a Response

Plan

US Food Supply

Safest in the world?Recalls

Spinach Tomatoes Peanut butter

Melamine

The U.S. government has declared the food and agriculture sector to

be one of 17 critical national infrastructures vulnerable to

intentional attack.

Why Would Your Farm or Business Be a

Target?● Missouri ranks 2nd in the

nation for number of farms● Missouri ranks 6th in number

of food processors● Missouri ranks 14th in

restaurant sales

What Type of Harm Could Occur?

1. Intentional delivery of a harmful biological or chemical agent to the food supply system could cause:

● Physical harm (illness or mortality)

● Economic disruption− Direct− Indirect− International

● Political unrest● Psychological harm –loss of

confidence in food supply

Case Study: Melamine

Contaminated Wheat Gluten→ pet food

Cats and dogs fall ill and some die

Massive recall of pet food

Contamination was intentional

Waste pet food fed to hogs in 7 states

56,000 hogs quarantined

Consumer Confidence in Food Defense Systems After National Food Recalls

Stinson et al., 2008

Who Do Consumers Believe is Responsible for Food Defense?

Stinson et al., 2008

Who do Consumers Believe is Responsible for Paying for

Food Defense

Percent of Consumers Believing a Product Likely to be Intentionally

Contaminated

Stinson et al., 2008

So, How do we Protect the Food Supply?Develop a Food Defense Plan

● Determine Vulnerability● Develop Countermeasures● Write a Defense Plan● Write a Response Plan