Restaurant Industry Preparedness Against Intentional Food Contamination

Abstract

Food safety and food defense are both responsibilities of public health agencies. Food safety practices within restaurants are regulated by state and local public health laws based on the US Food and Drug Administration Model Food Code. However, little is known about preemptive practices against intentional food-borne outbreaks within restaurants. The researchers administered a survey to a 50 percent random sample of South Carolina's restaurants, a state that relies heavily on tourism and the restaurant industry for its economic well-being. The survey received a response rate of 15 percent. The food defense practice items fall under three functional categories: employee management and training practices; vendor and delivery-related practices; and physical facilities and operational security practices. This study presents the results, classified by geographic region. Findings indicate some key areas of vulnerability that need attention to protect the public from mass food outbreaks due to intentional contamination. Of concern, there is much variation in practices by geographic region. On the basis of the survey, recommendations are made to improve restaurant preparedness against food-borne outbreaks from terrorism and malevolent contamination.

Consumer Awareness of Food Defense Measures at Food Delivery Service Providers and Food Manufacturers: Web-Based Consumer Survey Study

“…In light of recent incidents of intentional contamination of food with foreign substances, food manufacturing companies must implement food defense measures [10,[13][14][15]18]. In addition to food manufacturing companies, businesses that serve food directly to consumers, such as restaurants and stores, are likely to be targets of intentional contamination by foreign substances.…”

“…Therefore, food-related companies and businesses must implement not only food hygiene measures but also food defense measures to ensure food safety. Food defense refers to practicing "safety management to protect against attacks on food, such as intentional contamination of food with foreign substances or contaminants" [13][14][15].…”

Consumer Willingness to Pay for Food Defense and Food Hygiene in Japan: Cross-Sectional Study

“…In addition to food hygiene measures, food defense measures are becoming more common to ensure food safety [10][11][12][13]. Food hygiene measures involve the monitoring of food and beverages to prevent foodborne health hazards.…”

“…In other words, the prevention of food poisoning enables maintaining a safe food supply chain while avoiding food poisoning. By contrast, food defense is a means to prevent health hazards caused by the intentional contamination of food and beverages with foreign substances [ 10 , 12 , 13 ]. Contamination in the food defense context is not accidental, such as that caused by human error, but rather involves incidents in which food or beverages are intentionally contaminated by foreign substances with malicious intent.…”