food defense > processors

Food Defense

Basics for Food Processors

What is Food Defense?

Food defense is not the same as food safety. Food defense focuses on protecting the food supply from intentional contamination, with a variety of chemicals, biological agents or other harmful substances by people who want to do us harm. An attacker’s goal might be to kill people or disrupt our economy. Intentional acts are generally not reasonable and are hard to predict – they may involve agents for which we don’t normally test or materials that are not naturally occurring.

Food safety addresses the accidental contamination of food products during processing or storage by biological, chemical or physical hazards. The main types of food safety hazards are microbes, chemicals and foreign objects. This unintentional contamination of food products can be reasonably anticipated based on the type of processing. This principle is the foundation of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) process used to ensure food safety.

Note that because of the differences between food safety and food defense your plant’s HACCP plan should not be used as a substitute for a Food Defense Plan. However, creating a Food Defense Plan does NOT require development of another HACCP-type document. Some of the information you may use to create a plan will possibly exist in your HACCP plan, SSOPs, and other documents such as emergency response procedures. Make sure to consult these documents for information. There is no need to “reinvent the wheel” when developing your Food Defense Plan.

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Why Develop a Food Defense Plan?

A Food Defense Plan helps you identify steps you can take to minimize the risk that food products in your establishment will be intentionally contaminated or altered. A plan increases preparedness. Although the plan should be in place at all times, it may be particularly helpful during emergencies. During a crisis, when stress is high and response time is at a premium, a documented set of procedures improves your ability to respond quickly. A Food Defense Plan will help you maintain a safe working environment for your employees, provide a quality product to your customers, and protect your bottom line.

To help food processors and distributors, the following guides are available to assist you in developing a cost-effective Food Defense Plan for your facility.

• Developing a Food Defense Plan for Meat and Poultry Slaughter and Processing Plants
• Guide To Developing A Food Defense Plan For Warehouse and Distribution Centers
• Guide To Developing A Food Defense Plan For Food Processing Plants

These guides were developed in consultation with very small, small and large meat and poultry processing establishments in an attempt to ensure that the information presented is beneficial, practical and achievable.

By using this guide, you will be able to develop a food defense plan specific to your facility. Complete Pages 13 through 16 and you will have your functional plan. Keep in mind that not all of the guidance contained in this document may be appropriate or practical for every facility. Review the guidance and assess which preventive measures are suitable for your operation. You should determine the most cost-effective way to achieve food defense goals based on your plant’s situation. It is important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” approach to creating your Food Defense Plan. The plan can be as long or as short as is appropriate for your operation.

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Food Defense Checklists, Worksheets and Guides

Warehouses and Distribution Centers

• Guide To Developing A Food Defense Plan For Warehouse and Distribution Centers (Jan 2008; PDF Only)
  To help owners and operators of warehouse and distribution centers, FSIS has created a new guide and brochure providing key information and assistance in developing a cost-effective Food Defense Plan for your facility. Complete page 11 of the guide and you will have your plan.


• Food Defense Self Assessment Checklist for Warehouses and Distribution Centers (PDF) | DOC
• Food Defense Plan Worksheet for Warehouses and Distribution Centers (PDF) | DOC
• FSIS Safety & Security Guidelines for the Transportation & Distribution of Meat, Poultry, & Egg Products (PDF Only) | En Español PDF | Chinese PDF | Vietnamese PDF | Korean PDF
  This brochure for the food industry provides recommendations to ensure the security of food products through all phases of the distribution process.


• Keep America's Food Safe | PDF | En Español PDF
  This guidance is designed to assist transporters, warehouses, distributors, retailers and restaurants with enhancing their security programs to further protect the food supply from contamination due to criminal or terrorist acts.

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Plants

• Guide To Developing A Food Defense Plan For Food Processing Plants (March 2008; PDF Only)
  
To help owners and operators of food processing plants, the Center for Meat Process Validation has adapted a new guide and brochure providing key information and assistance in developing a cost-effective Food Defense Plan for your facility.


• Food Defense Self Assessment Checklist for Food Processing Plants (PDF)
• Food Defense Plan Worksheet for Food Processing Plants (PDF)


• Elements of a Functional Food Defense Plan (PDF Only)
  This information serves as guidelines for completing the food defense plan profile extension questions.


• FSIS Security Guidelines for Food Processors | PDF | En Español PDF | Chinese PDF | Vietnamese PDF | Korean PDF
  These guidelines assist federal and state inspected plants that produce meat, poultry, and egg products in identifying ways to strengthen their biosecurity protection.


• Developing a Food Defense Plan for Meat and Poultry Slaughter and Processing Plants (Jan 2007; PDF)
  Developed in consultation with very small, small, and large meat and poultry processors, this guide provides an easy, practical, and achievable three-step method for creating a food defense plan. By completing pages 13 -16 of this guide, you will have a plan specific for your operation.
  
  
  • Food Defense Self Assessment Checklist for Slaughter and Processing Facilities (PDF) | DOC
  
  
  • Food Defense Plan Worksheet for Slaughter and Processing Facilities (PDF) | DOC
• Keep America's Food Safe | PDF | En Español PDF
  This guidance is designed to assist transporters, warehouses, distributors, retailers and restaurants with enhancing their security programs to further protect the food supply from contamination due to criminal or terrorist acts.

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Retail

• Emergency Guidance for Retail Food Establishments (Jan 17, 2006; PDF Only)
  Practical guidance for retail grocery and food service establishments to plan and respond to emergencies that create the potential for an imminent health hazard.


• Keep America's Food Safe | PDF | En Español PDF
  This guidance is designed to assist transporters, warehouses, distributors, retailers and restaurants with enhancing their security programs to further protect the food supply from contamination due to criminal or terrorist acts.
  
  
• Protecting the Food Supply from Intentional Adulteration: An Introductory Training Session to Raise Awareness
  This training is available online and is being hosted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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