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Food Defense. In a Poultry Production Setting. Courtesy of Food Technology magazine, from "Defending the Food Supply," August 2005, Vol. 59, No.8. Food Technology is a publication of the Institute of Food Technologists, www.ift.org . . Is Our Food Safe From Attack?.
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Food Defense In a Poultry Production Setting Courtesy of Food Technology magazine, from "Defending the Food Supply," August 2005, Vol. 59, No.8. Food Technology is a publication of the Institute of Food Technologists, www.ift.org.
The U.S. government has declared the food and agriculture sector to be one of 17 critical national infrastructures vulnerable to intentional attack.
Will this Effect Missouri? • Missouri ranks 2nd in the nation for number of farms. • 5th in the nation for turkeys raised • 15th in the nation for egg production • 16th in the nation for all chicken
How is Food Supply a Critical Infrastructure? • Most states produce 30% or less of what it’s residents eat. • Most cities have only a 5 day food supply. • The average person’s food travels 1,300 miles from farm to table.
Case Study: Bitter Harvest • 1973 Fire retardant (PBB) accidentally mixed into feed rations for cattle. • Over a year later sickness in animals, and humans is linked to PBBs. • Cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, and contaminated commodities are destroyed and buried. • 97% of humans living in Michigan during that time have PBBs in their system.
What Type of Harm Could Occur? 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: The END • Oct. 12 2002 Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) is confirmed in small backyard flocks in Los Angeles County. • 46,000 square miles of southern CA were quarantined • By August 2003 the disease is eradicated. • More than 3 million birds were euthanized • Costs to control the outbreak exceeded $160 million.
What is Food Defense? Food Defense focuses on security, protecting the food supply from intentional contamination. Courtesy of Food Technology magazine, from "Defending the Food Supply," August 2005, Vol. 59, No.8. Food Technology is a publication of the Institute of Food Technologists, www.ift.org.
Is Food Defense Different than Biosecurity? • Food Defense focuses on protecting the food supply fromintentional contamination. • Biosecurity and Food Safety (HACCP) focus on protecting the food supply from unintentional contamination. They help with, but are not a substitute for food defense.
Who Might Intentionally Contaminate an Animal Production Facility? • Disgruntled employee/former employee • Contract or temporary employee • Members of terrorist or extremist groups • Truck driver • Affiliate of a competing facility • Visitor to facility
Biological Agents: Injure by causing disease, or producing toxin. Chemical Agents: Injure through toxicity to biological systems, or chemical burns to tissue. Radiological Agents: Injure externally with radiation burns and potentially deadly acute radiation sickness. Injure internally by causing damage to internal organs. Potential Contaminants
Biological Agents of Concernin a Poultry Production Facility • Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) • Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) • Zoonotic Disease • High Pathogenicity H5N1 Avian Influenza
Case Study: Take the High-Path • 1983 outbreak of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N2) in PA • >17 million birds were destroyed, 2 years to control • Direct cost of $65 million and a 30% increase in retail egg prices • Indirect costs are estimated at $250 million • Outbreak originated in a live bird market
Chemical Agents • Any Chemical not approved for use on the animals, or in their feed would be considered a contaminant. • Chemical agents used in acts of terrorism against livestock include: • Arsenic • Cyanide salt • Pesticides
Radiological Agents Livestock can be exposed to radiation via inhalation, ingestion of contaminated feed, or direct exposure. • Polonium 210 • Plutonium • Uranium (U-235 or U-238) • Iodine 131 (I-131)
What Makes an Attractive Agent of Intentional Contamination? • Long incubation period/delayed effect • Highly effective • History of use • Available (easily produced in adequate quantity) • Low traceability
What Do Consumers Think About Food Defense? Following several major food recalls in the US, consumer surveys were conducted. Courtesy of Food Technology magazine, from "Defending the Food Supply," August 2005, Vol. 59, No.8. Food Technology is a publication of the Institute of Food Technologists, www.ift.org.
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 Should Pay for Food Defense? Stinson et al., 2008
Products That Consumers Believe Most Likely to be Intentionally Contaminated Stinson et al., 2008
Food Defense Plan Defense plans are encouraged but not required for farms and most food establishments. Courtesy of Food Technology magazine, from "Defending the Food Supply," August 2005, Vol. 59, No.8. Food Technology is a publication of the Institute of Food Technologists, www.ift.org.
Facilities Currently Required to Participate in Food Defense All vendors providing food for USDA feeding programs must now be in compliance with the Food Defense System.
Four Steps for Developing a Food Defense Plan • Assess the vulnerabilities • Write a plan • Evaluatethe plan • Maintain the plan
Assessthe vulnerabilities • Gather a team of key personnel to make the assessment. • Think like someone who wants to harm your operation. • Look for areas where contamination would be spread through normal operations. • Look for sensitive areas that are not frequently observed.
Countermeasures Countermeasures are actions taken to shield vulnerable areas, reducing the risk of intentional contamination.
Areas to Consider for Countermeasure Development • Procedures • Facility • Technology • Personnel
Countermeasures for Procedures • Workforce • Shipping and Receiving • Visitors and Customers • Marketing
Countermeasures for Facility • Light it • Lock it • Limit Access
Writethe Plan • Develop a countermeasure to defend each vulnerable point identified as high risk. • Create a written plan including those countermeasures that are reasonable for the situation. • Identify the individual who will implement the countermeasure. • Set a timeline to implement the countermeasure.
What if the Food Supply is Intentionally Contaminated? Should such an event occur a timely and efficient response will be critical to minimizing the damage.
Develop a Written Response Plan • Plan for handling of contaminated animals • Emergency Planning • Facility Map • Emergency Contact Phone List • Visitor Log • Supplier/Customer Contacts • Employee Emergency Information
Handling of Contaminated Animals • First hold all potentially contaminated animals • Potentially contaminated animals will need to be quarantined prior to euthanasia. • Quarantine will need to be separate from non contaminated animals. • Prepare a plan for carcass disposal, to be reviewed by APHIS and state authorities in case of an intentional contamination.
Facility Map • Name, address, and phone of owner/proprietor • Relationship of the facility to adjacent properties and/or structures. • Road access including transportation routes • Perimeter boundaries, include fences, and gates (with dimensions)
Facility Map continued • Buildings, outbuildings, doors, windows, AC/heating, ventilation • Utilities (water, gas, electric, phones) location and shutoff • Septic System and drainage areas with direction of flow • Web sites such as Google Earth www.earth.google.com
Evaluatethe plan • Check the perimeter regularly. • Make unannounced entrances at various times. • Check locks in vulnerable areas. • Perform a mock quarantine.
Maintainthe plan • Ensure that measures implemented continue to be effective. • Train the family/employees regarding their effort in: • Prevention • Detection • Response • Re-evaluate the plan annually or as operations or facilities change.
References • www.aphis.gov • www.fsis.gov • www.bt.cdc.gov • www.dhs.gov
