Transcript Assessing the Threat of Food and Agricultural Terrorism

Addressing the Threat of Food
and Agricultural Terrorism
Bruce L. Akey, MS, DVM
Asst. State Vet/Asst. Director
Division of Animal Industry
New York State Department of
Agriculture and Markets
USDA and FDA
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USDA regulates meat, poultry and egg
products.
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FDA regulates all other food products,
drugs, cosmetics, biological, medical
devices, radiation-emitting electronic
products and veterinary products.
U. S. Food Industry
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In the U.S., characterized by centralized
production and wide distribution
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Even accidental contamination can result in
widespread outbreaks
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Produce imports from all over the world,
possible contamination difficult to monitor
(cyclosporiasis, HAV, bean sprouts, etc.)
Terrorists Can Exploit
Multiple Pathways
U.S. Food Safety System
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System was originally designed to detect
and contain accidental contamination
events
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Changes are being made to address
possible deliberate contamination events
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Multiple points of access in the farm to
fork continuum must be monitored
U. S. Food Industry
Livestock
Poultry
Eggs
Crops
FARM
Livestock Market
Feedlot
Slaughterhouse
Processor
Distributor/Wholesaler
Retail
Consumer
U.S. Food Safety System
State
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Dept. Agriculture
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Dept. Health
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Local Health
Federal
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U. S. Dept. Agriculture
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Food and Drug
Administration
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Dept. Homeland
Security
STATE
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Dept. Agriculture
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State Veterinarian
Meat/Poultry Inspection
Food Inspection
Dept. Health/Local Health
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Food Inspection
Water
FEDERAL
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USDA: Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
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Meat, Poultry, Eggs and their products
7600 personnel in slaughter and processing
plants
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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All other food products, drugs, cosmetics,
biologicals, medical devices, radiation-emitting
electronic products and veterinary
drugs/biologicals
FEDERAL
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Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
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Customs
Immigration
Agricultural Quarantine & Inspection
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Approximately 500 M people/year enter U.S.
Over 140 M trucks, ships, planes, buses and
cars
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A single ship can carry as many as 5,000
containers
• We have >70 ports of entry for food and cargo
FEDERAL
USDA
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Animal/Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS)
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Veterinary Services
Animal Import Quarantine
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38,000 animals a day are
imported into the US
Attacks on the Food Supply
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1952
• 1970
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1972
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1978
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1985
Insurgents in Kenya poison cattle
Graduate student infects
colleagues with Ascaris suum
Rising Sun Fascist group plan to
contaminate water with typhoid
Palestinian Commando contaminate
citrus with mercury in Israel
Tea exports in Sri Lanka threatened
by Tamil Rebels
Attacks on Food Supply
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1984
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1989
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1989
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1996
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2002
Salmonella typhimurium in salad
bars, Oregon (Rajneesh cult)
Breeders claim releasing fruit
flies in California
Chilean grapes contaminated
with cyanide
Shigella dysenteriae type 2 on
doughnuts at a lab
Rome, -CN attempt on U.S. embassy
Contamination Events
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1985 – Salmonella typhimurium – improperly
pasteurized milk – 200,000+ cases
1993 - Jack-in-the-Box hamburgers, E. coli
1994 – Salmonella enteriditis – ice cream –
200,000+ cases
1996 – E. coli, bean sprouts, 7,000 cases
2002 – MDR Salmonella Newport (multi-state)
2002 – Multi-state Listeria outbreak
FSIS 5-point strategy
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Improved management of inspectors
Application of science in crafting
regulations
Better coordination with other agencies
An aggressive education campaign for food
handlers
Protection of food supply against terrorist
attack
Food Threat Preparedness
Network (PrepNet)
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Food Safety and Inspection Service
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Food and Drug Administration
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Defense
Environmental Protection Agency
State and local agricultural, health
departments
Food Safety Initiatives
USDA:FSIS
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Security Guidelines for Food Processors
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Inside and outside premises
Mail, shipping & receiving
Slaughter, processing, storage
Water, ice
Personnel
Food Safety Initiatives
USDA:FSIS
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Safety and Security Guidelines for the
Transportation and Distribution of Meat,
Poultry and Egg Products
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Detailed security planning for storage and
distribution of products
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As always, personnel considerations are
of critical importance
State Dept. of Agriculture
USDA: Veterinary Services
Farm: Livestock, Poultry, Eggs
Livestock Market
Feedlot
State Dept. of Agriculture
Slaughterhouse
Processor
Distributor/Wholesaler
Retail
USDA
Food Safety Inspection Service
Processor
Slaughterhouse
State/Local Health Dept.
Retail
Consumer
Regulatory Activities Related to
Food Production
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Routine Surveillance Sampling
Spot-Check Surveillance
Complaint Investigation
Syndromic Surveillance/Trend Analysis
HACCP
2002 – Avian Influenza –
USA – 4 million birds
destroyed - over $100
million
2002-03 Exotic Newcastle Disease – USA – over
5 million birds, more than $160 million
2003 – BSE – Canada – 1 infected, over 2,000
destroyed - $11 million/day losses
Contamination Events
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2001 – Foot & Mouth
Disease – UK – over
2,000 farms, 8
million animals
destroyed, $15
billion
International Agricultural Service
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The "Foreign Service" of the U.S.D.A.
• Foreign Agricultural Service
• USDA Veterinary/International Services
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Based in embassies, but cover a region
Animal Health and Food Safety
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For our imports
For our exports
For improving food safety in other countries
Strategies for Countering
Threats
Prevention
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Constant information input, imagination
Vulnerability analysis throughout industry
Food industry has primary prevention role
Gov’t. (federal & local) advises & regulates
Simple measures added to combat sabotage
Strategies for Countering
Threats
Surveillance & Response
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Monitor animal and human health
Identify the threat/risk/exposure
Analytic lab availability
Contain and control the risk
Minimize the damage
Lessons learned for avoidance
Public Health
Promotion of Food Safety
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Educate the public
Educate food retailers, be available to
answer questions, be visible to them
Inspect food services as law requires
Know and work with regional USDA, FDA,
state Ag & Markets professionals
Attend informational sessions
Biosecurity On the Farm
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Know the health status of incoming animals
Isolate new arrivals from the herd/flock
Control access to the farm
Cleaning/Disinfection of clothing, vehicles,
equipment
Maintain records/identification
Seek veterinary care for sick animals
Contact State Veterinarian about sick animals
Promoting Food Safety in
Distribution & Retail
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Report theft of chemicals, pesticides, etc
Monitor condiment & salad bar displays
Carefully screen and educate new staff
Know your suppliers and their sources
Test your water and ice regularly
Maintain internal & external security
Awareness training for employees
Promoting Food Safety
in the Home
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Ensure food packaging is intact
Be alert to abnormal odor, taste, appearance
Wash raw fruits & vegetables
Wash poultry?
Wash hands, cooking and prep areas, and
utensils thoroughly with soap and water
Additional Food Safety
Suggestions
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Report theft of chemicals, pesticides, etc
• Restrict or contain access to chemicals &
cultures in the home, farm and workplace
• Inform us of possible food-borne illness
• Observe tamper-proof packaging
How and when to contact…
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USDA: www.usda.gov
• FSIS: www.fsis.usda.gov
• FDA: www.fda.gov
• NYS Ag & Markets:
www.agmkt.state.ny.us
• NYS DOH: www.nysdoh.state.ny.us
University at Albany SPH
Center for Public Health
Preparedness
www.ualbanycphp.org
518-486-7921
November 6, 9:00a-10:00a
Coordinating Community Response:
Public Health, Hospitals, Law
Enforcement and Emergency
Management Services
Dr. Joel Ackelsberg,
NYC Department of Health
and Mental Health