Addressing the Threat of Food Addressing the Threat of Food and Agricultural Terrorismand Agricultural Terrorism

Bruce L. Akey, MS, DVMAsst. State Vet/Asst. Director

Division of Animal Industry

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

USDA and FDAUSDA and FDA

• USDA regulates meat, poultry and egg products.

• FDA regulates all other food products, drugs, cosmetics, biological, medical devices, radiation-emitting electronic products and veterinary products.

U. S. Food IndustryU. S. Food Industry

• In the U.S., characterized by centralized production and wide distribution

• Even accidental contamination can result in widespread outbreaks

• Produce imports from all over the world, possible contamination difficult to monitor (cyclosporiasis, HAV, bean sprouts, etc.)

Terrorists Can Exploit Terrorists Can Exploit Multiple PathwaysMultiple Pathways

U.S. Food Safety SystemU.S. Food Safety System

• System was originally designed to detect and contain accidental contamination events

• Changes are being made to address possible deliberate contamination events

• Multiple points of access in the farm to fork continuum must be monitored

U. S. Food IndustryU. S. Food IndustryLivestock Poultry Eggs Crops FARM

Livestock Market

Feedlot

Slaughterhouse

Processor

Distributor/Wholesaler Retail Consumer

U.S. Food Safety SystemU.S. Food Safety System

State

• Dept. Agriculture

• Dept. Health

• Local Health

Federal

• U. S. Dept. Agriculture

• Food and Drug Administration

• Dept. Homeland Security

STATESTATE

• Dept. Agriculture• State Veterinarian• Meat/Poultry Inspection• Food Inspection

• Dept. Health/Local Health• Food Inspection• Water

FEDERALFEDERAL

• USDA: Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)• Meat, Poultry, Eggs and their products• 7600 personnel in slaughter and processing

plants

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)• All other food products, drugs, cosmetics,

biologicals, medical devices, radiation-emitting electronic products and veterinary drugs/biologicals

FEDERALFEDERAL

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) • Customs• Immigration• Agricultural Quarantine & Inspection

• Approximately 500 M people/year enter U.S.• Over 140 M trucks, ships, planes, buses and

cars• A single ship can carry as many as 5,000

containers• We have >70 ports of entry for food and cargo

FEDERALFEDERAL

USDA• Animal/Plant Health Inspection

Service (APHIS)• Veterinary Services• Animal Import Quarantine

• 38,000 animals a day are imported into the US

Attacks on the Food SupplyAttacks on the Food Supply• 1952 Insurgents in Kenya poison cattle• 1970 Graduate student infects

colleagues with Ascaris suum• 1972 Rising Sun Fascist group plan to

contaminate water with typhoid • 1978 Palestinian Commando contaminate

citrus with mercury in Israel• 1985 Tea exports in Sri Lanka threatened

by Tamil Rebels

Attacks on Food SupplyAttacks on Food Supply• 1984 Salmonella typhimurium in salad

bars, Oregon (Rajneesh cult)• 1989 Breeders claim releasing fruit

flies in California• 1989 Chilean grapes contaminated

with cyanide• 1996 Shigella dysenteriae type 2 on

doughnuts at a lab• 2002 Rome, -CN attempt on U.S. embassy

Contamination EventsContamination Events

• 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 strategyFSIS 5-point strategy

1. Improved management of inspectors

2. Application of science in crafting regulations

3. Better coordination with other agencies

4. An aggressive education campaign for food handlers

5. Protection of food supply against terrorist attack

Food Threat Preparedness Food Threat Preparedness Network (PrepNet)Network (PrepNet)

• 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 InitiativesFood Safety Initiatives

USDA:FSIS

• Security Guidelines for Food Processors• Inside and outside premises• Mail, shipping & receiving• Slaughter, processing, storage• Water, ice• Personnel

Food Safety InitiativesFood Safety Initiatives

USDA:FSIS

• Safety and Security Guidelines for the Transportation and Distribution of Meat, Poultry and Egg Products• Detailed security planning for storage and

distribution of products• As always, personnel considerations are

of critical importance

State Dept. of AgricultureUSDA: Veterinary Services

Farm: Livestock, Poultry, Eggs

Livestock Market

Feedlot

State Dept. of Agriculture

Slaughterhouse

Processor

Distributor/Wholesaler

Retail

USDAFood Safety Inspection Service

Processor Slaughterhouse

State/Local Health Dept.

Retail Consumer

Regulatory Activities Related to Regulatory Activities Related to Food ProductionFood Production

• 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 EventsContamination Events

• 2001 – Foot & Mouth Disease – UK – over 2,000 farms, 8 million animals destroyed, $15 billion

International Agricultural ServiceInternational Agricultural Service

• The "Foreign Service" of the U.S.D.A.• Foreign Agricultural Service• USDA Veterinary/International Services 

• Based in embassies, but cover a region

• Animal Health and Food Safety• For our imports• For our exports• For improving food safety in other countries

Strategies for Countering Strategies for Countering ThreatsThreats

Prevention

• 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 Strategies for Countering ThreatsThreats

Surveillance & Response• 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 Public Health Promotion of Food SafetyPromotion of Food Safety

• 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 FarmBiosecurity On the Farm

• 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 Promoting Food Safety in Distribution & RetailDistribution & Retail

• 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 Promoting Food Safety in the Homein the Home

• 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 SafetyAdditional Food SafetySuggestionsSuggestions

• 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…How and when to contact…

• 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 SPHUniversity at Albany SPHCenter for Public Health Center for Public Health

PreparednessPreparedness

www.ualbanycphp.org

518-486-7921

November 6, 9:00a-10:00aNovember 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