fight against bioterrorism
The food industry has a long history of dealing with threats to food safety, from food borne disease outbreaks and inadvertent contaminations to isolated incidents of product tampering and extortion. But, now, we are dealing with what heretofore was unthinkable: the intentional, widespread contamination of the food supply. The potential for the food supply being a target or tool of terrorism can no longer be viewed in hypothetical terms. Hoping and complacency are not an option. With the events of 2001, terrorism and bioterrorism became a key security issue. The issue of terrorism against the food supply is one that the food industry takes very seriously. In assessing the risk of intentional contamination of the food supply in the United States, the food industry has focused on three areas, what we like to refer to as the “3 P’s of Protection”. These three areas consist of personnel, product, and property. The criteria for accurate risk assessment is to look at company assets, then determine both the type of potential threat that exists and the company’s vulnerabilities. It is where a company’s assets and vulnerabilities overlap with potential threats that the risk of bioterrorism lies. The National Food Processors Association, or NFPA, has been the food industry’s leader in the regulatory implementation of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act, or Bioterrorism Act, which was signed into law by President Bush in 2002. NFPA strongly supported the Bioterrorism Act and its stated purpose to improve the ability of the U.S. to prevent, prepare for and respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
The Bioterrorism Act directed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA, to implement regulations for the registration of food facilities; prior notice of imported food shipments; the establishment, maintenance and availability of records; and the administrative detention of food for human or
The Bioterrorism Act directed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA, to implement regulations for the registration of food facilities; prior notice of imported food shipments; the establishment, maintenance and availability of records; and the administrative detention of food for human or
Cited: Threats, Institute Of Medicine (US) Forum on Microbial. Bioterrorism and the Food Supply. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 June 0000. Web. 06 Oct. 2013 "Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Preparedness." Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. "The Bioterrorism Act - CBP.gov." The Bioterrorism Act - CBP.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2013.