Prevention
Food Defense, formerly known as food security, is the means of preventing or eliminating the deliberate contamination of food by biological agents, toxins, chemicals, radiation, or a physical object by individuals or groups. Prevention is the most important aspect of food defense.
If you serve food to the public, follow these basic preventive steps to protect your establishment, your employees and your customers.
Prevent Food Tampering
- Monitor your buffet, food prep, and food delivery areas with security cameras
- Conduct staff meetings before each shift
- Train staff to detect and report signs of food tampering
- Ensure employees wear ID badges, uniforms, or both
- Ensure employees store personal items in lockers or away from any food areas
- Store chemicals and cleaning products safety and properly
- Perform criminal background checks before hiring new employees
- Have a food defense plan in place
- Know who to contact if you have a suspicion or issues related to food defense
What's New?
"If You See Something, Say Something" FlyerRecognition & Verification of Food Safety Inspection Officers
Indiana Food Defense Resources
Food Defense Fact Sheet for Regulators
A Guide to Developing a Food Defense Plan for Food Establishments (2011)
Food Industry Guidance on Food Defense
Department of Homeland Security’s Role in Food Defense and Critical Infrastructure Protection (2007)
Developing a Food Defense Plan for Meat and Poultry Processing Plants (USDA, 2008)
Emergency Handbook for Food Service Managers
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Waste Management for Homeland Security Incidents
FEMA Comprehensive Preparedness Guide, CPG 101
FDA 101: Product Recalls - From First Alert to Effectiveness Checks
FDA Food Security Guidance for Industry (with self assessment tool)
Federal Food and Agriculture Decontamination and Disposal Roles and Responsibilities (2005)
FDA Food Protection Plan (2007)
USDA FSIS Model Food Security Plans for Import Establishments
USDA FSIS Industry Self-Assessment Checklist for Food Security
Food & Agriculture Sector Protective Programs, Resiliency Strategies, & Tools
Food and Agriculture Sector - Criticality Assessment Tool (FAS-CAT)
Food Emergency Response Network
Food-Related Emergency Exercise Boxed Set
Facts about Pork Safety & H1N1
Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks
Lessons Learned Information Sharing
Food Safety & Security: Operational Risk Managment Systems Approach
Strategic Partnership Program Agroterrorism Initiative
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