Protecting Our Food Supply: Safety, Security,and Defense
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Transcript Protecting Our Food Supply: Safety, Security,and Defense
Protecting Our Food Supply:
Safety Security Defense
Dr. Ray Burden, Associate Director
Center for Agriculture & Food Security &
Preparedness
University of Tennessee
Introduction
Varied, complex, & changing industry
Global in scope
LSU
Why are we concerned?
The Food Processing Industry
Prepare raw food products for
consumption
Processing procedures may be:
Simple
Washing produce
Complex
Producing cheese
Major Determinants of Processing
Procedures
Type of food
Regulatory requirements
Market place/ forces
Available technology
Farm to Fork
Continuum
Pre-harvest Food
Post-harvest Food
Transportation
Inputs
Processing
Farm Production
Retail Markets
Distribution
Consumption
Global Food Production
Intensive production centers
produce food which provides:
High-quality
Infinite selection
Low-priced
Valuing Agriculture and the Food Systems
Five states (CA, IL, IA, NE, and TX) produce
one-third of total U.S. food & agricultural
products
Agriculture of vital importance to economy of
most States
Food Supply Chain
Food distributed and shipped globally
Food travels 1200 or more miles from
production to consumption
In a day one may easily consume food
from over 10 countries
Globalization led to increases in:
– Trade of food products between nations
– Vulnerabilities of food system
Your Average American Hot Dog with Chili
and Onions…
White Pepper - Cambodia
Tomato Sauce - CA
Yeast - France
Wheat - KS
Beef - CO
Pork - Canada
Chili Powder - India
Paprika - Thailand
www.medwayports.com
Diced Onions - Mexico
Packaging and
Repacking
Food products may be moved between
facilities where different processing may occur
Example: Citrus Grower → Transport → Citrus
concentrate → Transport → Final citrus
product processed and packaged for sale →
Transport → Distributors → Transport
→Retail Sale
Imported Products and Ingredients
Approximately 11 million
cargo containers enter
the United States every
year
Only a small percentage
are inspected (3-5%)
Imported Products
and Ingredients
US trades with over 150 countries/ territories
with products coming into over 300 ports
~ 15% of US food supply by volume imported
Increases to 60% if include fresh fruits and
vegetables when US production out of season
75% for seafood products
Agricultural and Food Supply Systems
Agriculture and food
systems are an “extensive,
open, interconnected,
diverse, and complex
structure…vulnerable to
attack”
USDA
(HSPD 9)
Tommy Thompson
Former Secretary of U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services (2004)
“For the life of me, I cannot
understand why the
terrorists have not
attacked our food supply,
because it is so easy to do.”
Why are we
concerned?
Intelligence has shown terrorists have planned
to attack agriculture and the food sector
Manuals for intentional contamination of food
widely available
Agriculture and food system “soft targets”
Food Terrorism
Food or water can carry pathogens,
chemicals, and toxins to people to cause
illness or death
Any incident would cause significant
psychological impact
2003 WHO Report
Urged governments to create contingency
plans to protect against food terrorism
Cited foodborne disease outbreaks to show
risk
“If an unintentional outbreak from one food, such
as clams, can affect 300,000 individuals, a
concerted, deliberate attack could be devastating,
especially if a more dangerous chemical,
biological or radionuclear agent was used.”
Use of Chemical and Biological
Weapons against the Food Supply
1984- Contamination of salad bar in Oregon
with Salmonella. 751 persons ill
2003- Contamination of ground beef with
nicotine in Michigan. 111 sick, 45 hospitalized
2002- Snack food contaminated with rat
poison in China. 300 sick, 40 child deaths
Food Threat Agents
CDC Category A agents
B. anthracis and Clostridium botulinum toxin
CDC Category B agents
Epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens
Salmonella species, Escherichia coli O157:H7,
Shigella
Ricin toxin from Ricinus communis (castor
beans)
Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B
Food Vulnerabilities in Transport
FSIS food chain assessments highlighted key
issues
Personnel handling/transporting food
Failure to report suspect issues
Communication between public and private sector
Lack of standard use of seals
Food at rest is at risk
Import/
Transport Issues
Meat & poultry products smuggled into U.S.
by ship, truck, air, automobile, mail, &
passenger luggage
Transport by sea container extremely
vulnerable and major mode of transport of
illegal drugs into U.S.
Import/
Transport Issues
Container documentation typically provides
only limited details about contents, sender,
and ultimate recipient.
Goods transported by truck or rail highly
vulnerable since difficult to thoroughly
inspect.
Import/
Transport Issues
Port employees may participate in an act of
intentional adulteration.
GAO has estimated that at port facilities,
over 80 percent of cargo theft is perpetrated
by personnel whose employment gives them
direct access to the cargo.
Transportation
Vulnerabilities
Trucking major form of transporting food
both in foreign countries and within U.S
Many trucks not sealed with tamper-proof or
tamper-evident locks or seals
Trucks may make multiple stops to pick up
and unload products
Transportation
Vulnerabilities
Recently, in two separate incidents, cocaine
found inside packages of ground beef
destined for school lunch program.
Highlights vulnerability of truck
transportation
Food Terrorism
Direct Effects
Human illness or death
Mental anguish / Generate fear
Decreased productivity or death in animals or
crops
Product recalls and destruction of product
Losses associated with clean up efforts
Food Terrorism Indirect Effects
Loss of consumer
confidence
Loss of jobs
Trade restrictions
Market destabilization
Undermine confidence
in government
USDA
2005 – E. coli O157:H7 outbreak
associated with pre-packaged
lettuce caused drop in sales
Why should we
be concerned?
Numerous possibilities for contamination
exist from processing to shipping
Can impact the safety of the food supply
Contamination at one point in the system can
spread globally with a resulting huge impact
in terms of human illness and/or death
Plastics chemical can make feed appear
more protein-rich
Updated 8:50 p.m. ET, Fri., April. 20, 2007
Melamine- Case Study
Chemical used in a variety of industrial
manufacturing processes
Not approved for addition to human or
animal foods in the U.S.
When added to food products, it elevates
the protein content of the product
Used as an adulterant for economic benefit
in China
Melamine- Case Study
Contamination of US pet food (wheat gluten)
in 2007
Dogs and cats that consumed adulterated pet
food developed kidney failure and many died
Contaminated infant formula in China in
2008
More than 47,000 infants and young children
hospitalized for urinary problems, possible renal
tube blockages and kidney stones.
Four infant deaths confirmed.
FDA Advisories- Possible melamine
contamination
Topaz Wafer Rolls with
Various Cream Fillings
G&J Hot Cocoa Stuffer Item
120144
G&J Cocoa items
Wonderfarm Variety Assorted
Biscuits
Sweet Time Christmas Dressy
Bear with Chocolate Bar Fresh
and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits
Koala’s March Crème filled
Cookies
White Rabbit Candies
Mr. Brown Various Blends
Instant Coffee
Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)
YILI Brand Milk Drinks
Blue Cat Flavored Drinks
Infant formula
manufactured in China
Hydrolyzed leather protein
Center for Agriculture & Food Security &
Preparedness- University of Tennessee
Opened October 16, 2006
Primary focus to assist the
nation to protect its critical
infrastructure, including
agriculture and food supply
~8 million in funded projects
Funded projects: DHS, USDA,
FDA, TN Dept of Ag, state
Homeland Security
National Training Programs
Agriculture and Food Vulnerability Assessment
Importation and Transportation of Food
Credentialing of Animal Emergency
Responders
Geared towards frontline officials and
responders- Adult Learners
Agriculture and Food Vulnerability
Assessment Training Program
MGT 332
MGT 337
2 ½ days
1 ½ days
Case studies on crops,
Subset of MGT 332
animal facilities and
food processing
Focus on food
processing
Sharing of Information & Intelligence on
the Importation & Transportation of Food
Food transportation consistently ranked as
one of the most vulnerable links in our food
chain
3 components:
Web-based course
Instructor-led course- 1 day
Video for Transportation Industry
ILT available January 2011
Food Safety Modernization Act
Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS)
FDA and USDA’s FSIS
Multiple focus points
transportation and importation
Increase training for food inspectors at all levels
Food defense
Emphasis on training food inspectors at all
levels
Food Safety during disasters
CAFSP and FSMA
Partner with NMSU and U of HI
Focus on importation and ethnic foods
Central and South America
Pacific Rim
Cultural competency for inspectors
Training for food inspectors during disasters
Summary
Concerns over the potential for intentional
contamination of food are valid
Food Protection
Safety Security Defense
Questions?
[email protected]
865-974-7230