Protecting Our Food Supply: Safety Security Defense Dr. Ray Burden, Associate Director Center for Agriculture & Food Security & Preparedness University.

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Protecting Our Food Supply: Safety Security Defense Dr. Ray Burden, Associate Director Center for Agriculture & Food Security & Preparedness University of Tennessee Slide 2 Introduction Varied, complex, & changing industry Global in scope Why are we concerned? LSU Slide 3 The Food Processing Industry Prepare raw food products for consumption Processing procedures may be: Simple Washing produce Complex Producing cheese Slide 4 Major Determinants of Processing Procedures Type of food Regulatory requirements Market place/ forces Available technology Slide 5 Farm to Fork Continuum Farm Production Pre-harvest FoodPost-harvest Food Consumption Retail Markets Distribution Inputs Processing Transportation Slide 6 Global Food Production Intensive production centers produce food which provides: High-quality Infinite selection Low-priced Slide 7 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 Slide 8 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 Slide 9 Your Average American Hot Dog with Chili and Onions www.medwayports.com Diced Onions - Mexico Pork - Canada Chili Powder - India Paprika - Thailand White Pepper - Cambodia Tomato Sauce - CA Beef - CO Wheat - KS Yeast - France Slide 10 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 Slide 11 Imported Products and Ingredients Approximately 11 million cargo containers enter the United States every year Only a small percentage are inspected (3-5%) Slide 12 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 Slide 13 Agricultural and Food Supply Systems Agriculture and food systems are an extensive, open, interconnected, diverse, and complex structurevulnerable to attack (HSPD 9) USDA Slide 14 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. Slide 15 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 Slide 16 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 Slide 17 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. Slide 18 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 Slide 19 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 Slide 20 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 Slide 21 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. Slide 22 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. Slide 23 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. Slide 24 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 Slide 25 Transportation Vulnerabilities Recently, in two separate incidents, cocaine found inside packages of ground beef destined for school lunch program. Highlights vulnerability of truck transportation Slide 26 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 Direct Effects Slide 27 Food Terrorism Indirect Effects Loss of consumer confidence Loss of jobs Trade restrictions Market destabilization Undermine confidence in government 2005 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with pre-packaged lettuce caused drop in sales USDA Slide 28 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 Slide 29 Plastics chemical can make feed appear more protein-rich Updated 8:50 p.m. ET, Fri., April. 20, 2007 Slide 30 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 Slide 31 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. Slide 32 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 Koalas March Crme 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 Slide 33 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 Slide 34 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 Slide 35 Agriculture and Food Vulnerability Assessment Training Program MGT 332 MGT 337 2 days Case studies on crops, animal facilities and food processing 1 days Subset of MGT 332 Focus on food processing Slide 36 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 Slide 37 Food Safety Modernization Act Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) FDA and USDAs 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 Slide 38 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 Slide 39 Summary Concerns over the potential for intentional contamination of food are valid Food Protection Safety Security Defense Slide 40 Questions? [email protected] 865-974-7230