Terrorist Threats to Food
Terrorist Threats to Food

Author: World Health Organization. Food Safety Department

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13: 9789241545846

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

While only a few cases of intentional contamination of food have been proven, the risk of possible terrorist threats to food should be given serious consideration by public health authorities and the food industry.This document examines means of establishing basic prevention, surveillance and response capacities. Because both unintentionally and deliberately caused outbreaks of foodborne disease may be managed by many of the same mechanisms, the WHO recommendations concentrate on working with national governments on integrating terrorism prevention and response measures into existing national food safety and disease surveillance programmes.Preventive measures by governments and the food industry are discussed. Industry involvement is encouraged from the outset, as the food industry possesses the primary means and greatest ability to minimize food-related risks. Existing food safety management programmes can be enhanced, WHO says, while putting in place appropriate security measures to protect food production and distribution systems. The document provides suggestions for specific measures for consideration by industry.The document provides guidance on strengthening existing communicable disease control systems to ensure that surveillance systems are sufficiently sensitive to meet the threat of any food safety emergency.The guidance document emphasizes the need to strengthen existing emergency alert and response systems by improving links with all relevant agencies and with the food industry. Many developed and most developing countries are not yet adequately prepared to deal with a large-scale food safety emergency. All countries should undertake preparedness and response planning to be able to cope with food safety emergencies regardless of their cause. In this regard, the services of various technical programmes of WHO as well as other organizations that may be of assistance to countries in addressing this newly emerging public health concern are also described in the document.Experts from national agencies in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States of America, and from organizations including the European Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Industry Council for Development contributed to the development of the document.

Advances in Food Protection
Advances in Food Protection

Author: Magdy Hefnawy

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2011-04-05

Total Pages: 263

ISBN-13: 9400710992

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The global food-supply chain is vulnerable to threats from a variety of directions. Hence food security and safety remains a hot topic worldwide in academic research arenas and food industry practices. This book describes efforts from academia, government, and industry to counter food terrorism and to protect the food supply against any threat. In addition, it evaluates the global food supply, production capabilities, and food availability during and after disasters. Articles in the book assess food safety emergencies, and the prevention of, and response to deliberate contamination by microbial or chemical substances. Minimization of health and economic risks following a terrorist act or unintentional contamination is likewise discussed. The book also examines novel preservation techniques, methods to produce safe food products, and other concerns for ensuring a stable and safe food supply.

Hitting America's Soft Underbelly
Hitting America's Soft Underbelly

Author: Peter Chalk

Publisher: Rand Corporation

Published: 2004-01-29

Total Pages: 67

ISBN-13: 0833035940

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Over the past decade, the United States has endeavored to increase its ability to detect, prevent, and respond to terrorist threats and incidents. The agriculture sector and the food industry in general, however, have received comparatively little attention with respect to protection against terrorist incidents. This study aims to expand the current debate on domestic homeland security by assessing the vulnerabilities of the agricultural sector and the food chain to a deliberate act of biological terrorism and exploring the likely outcomes of a successful attack.

Bioterrorism and Food Safety
Bioterrorism and Food Safety

Author: Barbara A. Rasco

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2004-12-28

Total Pages: 431

ISBN-13: 1420038206

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Written by specialists in the fields of food bioterrorism and industry preparedness, Bioterrorism and Food Safety focuses on developing rational and implementable food security strategies and plans. It integrates food safety issues, technological developments in traceability, and legal analysis of current and pending regulations with good bu

Food Chain Security
Food Chain Security

Author: Hami Alpas

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2010-08-24

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 9048195586

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The pilot study on Food Chain Security was launched in 2003 by NATO Public Diplomacy Division Science for Peace and Security Section (SPS) under the leadership of Turkey. The purpose of the study was to study the safety and security of food stuffs in the face of their careless/ignorant handling as well as against expected terrorist attacks at the system which may destroy and/or degrade it at the source during distribution, processing and in the consumption phase. The study included the protective and response measures which may have to be taken to reduce the risk and mitigate the consequences of these threats to the food system. The final outputs of this pilot study were agreed to be mainly: To allow comparison between country partners To identify common weaknesses of the food systems As a result of the terrible September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States the nature of the terrorist threat appears to be more uncertain and diffused, therefore the terrorist threat against the food system which comprises production, processing, distribution, restaurants, and retail can be very diverse and unpredictable and involve chemical, biological, and radiological agents of various kinds. Preparing for all possible contingencies was not practical, so a “risk management approach” was used in this study based on risk management principles that acknowledge while risk generally cannot be eliminated, enhancing protection from known or potential threats can reduce it.

Enhancing Food Safety
Enhancing Food Safety

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2010-11-04

Total Pages: 589

ISBN-13: 0309163587

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Recent outbreaks of illnesses traced to contaminated sprouts and lettuce illustrate the holes that exist in the system for monitoring problems and preventing foodborne diseases. Although it is not solely responsible for ensuring the safety of the nation's food supply, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees monitoring and intervention for 80 percent of the food supply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's abilities to discover potential threats to food safety and prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness are hampered by impediments to efficient use of its limited resources and a piecemeal approach to gathering and using information on risks. Enhancing Food Safety: The Role of the Food and Drug Administration, a new book from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, responds to a congressional request for recommendations on how to close gaps in FDA's food safety systems. Enhancing Food Safety begins with a brief review of the Food Protection Plan (FPP), FDA's food safety philosophy developed in 2007. The lack of sufficient detail and specific strategies in the FPP renders it ineffectual. The book stresses the need for FPP to evolve and be supported by the type of strategic planning described in these pages. It also explores the development and implementation of a stronger, more effective food safety system built on a risk-based approach to food safety management. Conclusions and recommendations include adopting a risk-based decision-making approach to food safety; creating a data surveillance and research infrastructure; integrating federal, state, and local government food safety programs; enhancing efficiency of inspections; and more. Although food safety is the responsibility of everyone, from producers to consumers, the FDA and other regulatory agencies have an essential role. In many instances, the FDA must carry out this responsibility against a backdrop of multiple stakeholder interests, inadequate resources, and competing priorities. Of interest to the food production industry, consumer advocacy groups, health care professionals, and others, Enhancing Food Safety provides the FDA and Congress with a course of action that will enable the agency to become more efficient and effective in carrying out its food safety mission in a rapidly changing world.