Title: Terrorism and the Defense of the Food System
1Terrorism and the Defense of the Food System
- Food Systems and the Environment
- Spring 2007 Environmental Lecture Series
- 3 April 2007
- Amherst, Massachusetts
- Francis (Frank) F. Busta, Director
- National Center for
- Food Protection and Defense
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- University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus
- 200 Dinnaken Office Building925 Delaware Avenue
S.E., - Minneapolis, MN 55455 USAPhone (612) 624-2458
- http//www.ncfpd.umn.edu
2Terrorism and the Defense of the Food
SystemFrancis F. Busta, Director National
Center for Food Protection Defense,
Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Intentional contamination of the food supply
poses a real and potentially catastrophic threat
to society. Overall, it has the potential to
result in disastrous and far-reaching effects,
including direct morbidity and/or mortality,
disruption of food distribution, loss of consumer
confidence in the food supply, business failures,
trade restrictions, and ripple effects on the
economy. Key interrelated factors specific to
food and the food system create this unusual
vulnerability. - The efficiency of the food system enables
products derived from a wide range of global
sources to be mass-produced in a single location
and, due to the speed of national and global
just-in-time supply chains, distributed rapidly.
The food industrys routine food safety measures
are not designed to protect against high-impact
deliberate contamination. When contamination
occurs, identification of its nature and extent
may take days or even weeks. Unintentional
foodborne illness can further complicate
recognition of intentional contamination events. - The food/agriculture sectors infrastructure must
be strengthened to mitigate potential harm
resulting from deliberate contamination, thereby
making the food system less vulnerable to attack.
Initiatives include the development of specific
countermeasures to minimize or eliminate
vulnerabilities, as well as the development of
practical solutions that enhance the capability
to rapidly identify, contain, respond, and
recover from intentional contamination, both real
and threatened. These activities must encompass
the entire farm-to-table food system, from
pre-farm inputs through retail sale to
consumption at the consumer level.
3Overview
- The Food System as a Target
- Intentional contamination in the past
- Overview of the food system complexity/vulnerabi
lity of supply chain - Potential impact of food system attacks
- Principles and perceptions
- NCFPD Research Education Efforts
4Current Events Context
- Global warming
- Avian influenza spreading rapidly
- Pandemic human influenza concerns mounting
- Nations capability to respond to natural
disasters - Increased chatter on general terrorism threats
- Health care crisis looming
- Budget deficits mounting
- Why are we worried about defense of the food
system?
5Food Contamination History
- Historical military weapon (troops/civilians)
- Athenian poisoning of Kirrha (590 B.C.)
- WWII Japan in China/Manchuria with Bacillus
anthracis, Shigella spp, Vibrio cholerae,
Salmonella paratyphi, and Yersinia pestis - Terrorist/criminal acts in the U.S. and abroad
- Rajneeshee cult contamination of ten salad bars
with S. typhimurium (1984, 751 ill) - Lab technician poisoning of 12 co-workers with
Shigella dysenteriae laced pastries (1996)
6Grocery store worker accused of poisoning
beef Thursday, February 13, 2003 Posted 504 PM
EST (2204 GMT)
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan -- A former supermarket
employee was indicted on charges of poisoning
about 200 pounds of ground beef with insecticide
and sickening more than 40 people.
Italy on alert for water poisoner Italian police
have launched a search to track down a mystery
poisoner who has been injecting a soapy liquid
into plastic bottles of mineral water.
61 Students felled by rat poison in central
China Monday, September 29, 2003 Dozens of
elementary school students and teachers in Hunan
Province were hospitalized after ingesting rat
poison with their school breakfasts in an
apparent deliberate mass poisoning, state media
said Sunday.
350 Iraqi Policeman Suffer Food PoisoningOctober
11, 2006BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Authorities arrested
the head of the mess hall where at least 350
Iraqi policemen suffered food poisoning, and a
military spokesman said Monday that it was likely
the poisoning was intentional.
7Intelligence on Food Terrorism
Terrorist groups have a lesser interest in
biological materials and are most interested in
chemicals such as cyanide salts to contaminate
food and water supplies CIA Testimony to
Congress 2002
Documents Seized in Afghanistan (Tarnak Farms)
Indicate Interest
8Government Accountability Office
- Recently identified the food system as a high
risk area for homeland security in its January
2007 report, High Risk Series An Update
(GAO-07-310).
9Recent Rand Report
- In terms of modalities, one can expect to see an
ongoing emphasis on coordinated bombingspossibly
interspersed with the adoption of less
conventional tactics such as radiological
releases and the deliberate contamination of the
food supply or agriculture.
Libicki, Chalk Sisson, 2007 Exploring
Terrorist Targeting Preferences RAND Corp.
www.rand.org pp. 71
10Recent Rand Report
- Attacks against the agricultural sector may pose
the most serious threat given their ease of
execution and potential socioeconomic fallout
food processing and packing plants are especially
at risk.
Libicki, Chalk Sisson, 2007 Exploring
Terrorist Targeting Preferences RAND Corp.
www.rand.org pp. 84
11Challenges of Food Defense
- Food supply chain the most complicated supply
chain known - Globally dispersed, privately held and highly
dynamic - Food a potentially desirable terrorist vehicle
- Unintentional contamination already highlights
the challenges
12U.S. Global Food SystemStrength and Risk
- Food sector a huge economic engine 1.24
trillion/year - One in six jobs
- Highly concentrated Vast transportation systems
- Food system complexity makes contamination a real
risk - 2,128,000 farms
- 30,000 food manufacturing sites (94,000
foreign) - 19,567 re-packers/packers (87,000 foreign)
- 224,300 retail food stores
- 565,000 food service outlets
- Everyone eats everyone a target
13? MillionForeign Farms
2.1 MillionU.S. Farms
30,000 U.S.Processing Sites
94,000 Foreign Processing Sites
19,000 DomesticPackers/Repackers
87,000 ForeignPackers/Repackers
224,000 RetailFood Stores
935,000 RetailFood Outlets
14Food Agriculture Infrastructure
- The most complicated supply chain in existence
- Globally dispersed
- Privately held
- Highly integrated
- Flexible
- Dynamic
- Innumerable potential points of
disruption/contamination - Inherently systems based
15Supply Chain Complexity
16Ingredients
USDA inspected beef
bleached wheat flour mono- and diglycerides malted
barley flour diacetyl tartaric acid
esters thiamine ethanol riboflavin sorbitol
Niacin polysorbate 20 folic acid potassium
propionate reduced iron sodium stearoyl
lactylate Water corn starch corn syrup ammonium
chloride sesame seeds ammonium sulfate soybean
oil calcium peroxide Yeast ascorbic
acid Salt azodicarbonamide calcium
sulfate enzymes calcium carbonate calcium
propionate calcium silicate wheat gluten soy
flour baking soda
Milk milkfat Water cream sodium
citrate salt sodium phosphate sorbic
acid artificial color cheese culture acetic
acid soy lecithin Enzymes starch
Sauce Soybean oil pickles distilled
vinegar Water egg yolks High fructose corn
syrup Sugar onion powder corn
syrup Spice spice extractives Salt xanthan
gum mustard flour Prop. glycol alginate sodium
benzoate potassium sorbate mustard bran garlic
powder hydrolyzed proteins caramel
color Paprika Turmeric calcium disodium EDTA
Cucumbers water Vinegar Salt calcium
chloride Alum natural flavorings polysorbate
80 turmeric
Grill Seasoning Salt Pepper cottonseed
oil soybean oil
17The Consumer Assumes A Safe and Plentiful Food
Supply
18 Principles of Delivery
- The delivery of the food supply is highly
dependent on the many facets of the food system
and supply chain - No longer a simple system
19Fresh-cut lettuce distribution chain
20U.S. Global Food SystemStrength and Risk
Grains
Oils
Cheese
Juices
Vegetables
Bananas
Cocoa
Seafood
Processed Meat
Spices
Fresh Meat
21Imported Foods
- 60 billion in ag imports
- 150,000 foreign facilities registered
- 3 of imported food is inspected at the border
- Borders are porous
Over 90 of green onions and 48 of cucumbers
sold in the United States were from Mexico in 2005
Mexican trucks make about 4.5 million border
crossings each year, according to US government
figures. DOT 6-24-05
22Food System Imported Shrimp
- Majority of shrimp for the U.S. is imported
- International sources serve multiple regions
- Intentional contamination overseas might or might
not be intended for the U.S.
23Thailand Shrimp Exports
18,409 Metric Tons/year
100,342 Metric Tons/year
24Agriculture Attack Impacts
- Primarily an economic threat with major
confidence in government impact - Nationally distributed target with global trade
significance - Local through national economic dislocations with
rapid onset and slow recovery - Cascading economic, psychological sociological
effects - UK and Dutch FMD outbreaks registered significant
post-traumatic stress disorder rates
25Food Attack Impacts
- Both a significant public health and economic
threat - Access to sufficient calories not a likely issue
in developed nations, could be one in poorer
nations. - Globally distributed target
- Psychological impact of personal threat vector
for delivery of agents - Will my cookie kill me as a Weapon of Mass
Destruction threat
26Consumer Perceptions
- Consumers believe terrorism events will occur in
the near term - Food attacks are the least anticipated, but
consumers would spend the most on preventing - Consumers place burden on the government first,
industry a close second, for food defense
27 Principles Perception
- Systems thinking is imperative
- Principles are fundamentally same
- Must recognize similarities differences
- Food Quality
- Food Safety
- Food Defense
- Food Protection
- Animal Protection
- Crop Protection
28 Principles Perception
- Symmetrical
- vs.
- Asymmetrical
- Food Quality
- Food Safety
- Food Defense
- Food Protection
- Animal Protection
- Crop Protection
29Threats Come in Various Forms
- Mother Nature
- Disgruntled employees
- Violent activist groups
- Criminals/subversives
- International/government supported or directed
groups or individuals terrorists
30Problem - Past Frame of Reference
- Product consistency, cost, stability
- Free of pathogens foreign material
- Oblivious to intentional contamination
- Stable raw material supply
- Reliable and accessible vs. transient workers
31Challenges of a Food Situation
- Food supply system is extremely complex
- Global challenge acknowledged
- Food as a desirable terrorist vehicle
- Intentional vs. accidental contamination
- New paradigm for threats to food safety and
defense management
32Multiple Food System Vulnerabilities
- Opportunities for contaminant access
- Lack of subsequent adequate inactivation
treatment - Large volume and/or maximum mixing
- Product environment for agent growth/preservation
- Rapid distribution to consumers
- Rapid consumption by consumers
- Possible disproportionate consumption by high
risk populations
33Differentiating Accidental/Normal from
Intentional Contamination
- Types of information, reports, situations
- Types of agents
- Concentration of agents
- Choice of targets
- Scale/number of targets
- Recognition of illness, cause, response
34- Defending the safety of the food systemthrough
research and education
Frank Busta , Director NCFPD http//www.ncfpd.umn
.edu
35Collaborating Across Agencies
State/Local Agencies
36Broad Academic Collaboration
37Diverse Industry and Association Collaboration
38NCFPD Mission
- Reduce the likelihood of an attack
- Improve the nations ability to respond
effectively - Reduce the consequences of an attack
39NCFPD Goals
- Reduce the potential for catastrophic food system
events by - Rendering targets unattractive
- Rapidly and accurately detecting attacks
- Responding effectively to minimize consequences
- Rapidly delivering effective recovery efforts
- Training new scientists and professionals
- Partnering and collaborating to ensure success
40NCFPD Primary Themes
- Supply Chain Resiliency
- Public Health Response
- Economic Models for Evaluating Interventions
System Focus
- Rapid Detection
- Decontamination
- Inactivation
- Disposal
Agent Focus
- Disseminating NCFPD Products
- Training Scholars and Professionals
- Risk Communication
Training Focus
41Supply Chain Goals
System Focus
- Tools for the private sector to assess and
improve their own capabilities to - Prevent food system events
- Respond to food system events
- Recover from food system events
- Guidelines/standards to simplify implementation
of best practices for supply chain protection
42Public Health Goals
System Focus
- Realistic models for food system events and
public health response capability to enable - Improved interventions/countermeasures
- More rapid surveillance
- More effective policies and training across the
food and public health systems - Performance standards for surveillance outbreak
response at the state and local level
43Models of Food System Events
- Realistic models of key event attributes
- Consumer exposure and outcome
- Impact on public health infrastructure
- Economic impact of an event
- Impact of various interventions
- Demonstrates massive impact from food event
- Requires extensive collaboration with private
sector, states and federal agencies to be
relevant
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47Time from Symptoms to Outbreak Complaint/Recogniti
on
System Focus
EDITS2002
48Botulism Outbreak Example
System Focus
Event
- August 25, Church supper
- 15 (40)/38 ill
- August 29, 4 men admitted to hospital
- Diagnosis delayed by 1-7 d in 4 persons
- Outlier sought treatment 4x over 3 days before
diagnosis - Kalluri P, et al. CID
- 2003371490-1495
Event recognized
49Economics Goals
System Focus
- Quantitative evaluation of the total economic
consequences at the firm, community, sector,
regional and national level - Tools to optimize investments for mitigation of
food system events - Consumer and private sector validation of
appropriate investments in the food system
50Consumers Believe Food Safe, But Not Secure
System Focus
51Public Says Spend More for Food Defense and to
Prevent Chemical-Biological Attacks
52NCFPD Primary Themes
System Focus
- Rapid Detection
- Decontamination
- Inactivation
- Disposal
Agent Focus
Training Focus
53Detection Goals
Agent Focus
- Detection platforms for the unique needs of the
food system, including - In-line processing
- Mobile deployment
- Private and public sector laboratories
- Detection platforms built on multiple technical
strategies - Integration of existing technologies into rapid
systems - Development of new platforms for real time
detection - Development of new platforms for rapid, high
sensitivity/specificity
54Dairy Detection Where To Test?
Agent Focus
Dairy Farms 116,874
Supply Plants 101
Cheese Plants 402
Distributing Plants 265
Flavor Suppliers 32
Ice Cream Plants 94
Vitamin Suppliers 11
Bulk Condensed Milk 66 Plants
Intentional contamination of ONE BATCH at any one
of these points could result in catastrophic
public health and economic harm
55Electronic detection of membrane dissolution
- Bio-recognition membrane separates fluidic sample
from electrodes - Specific target cleaves membrane (ex. protease
activity) - Sample flows into electrodes and changes
resistance drastically - Ideally ? transduction/amplification (enzyme
activity) - Zero power consumption until target detection
- Applicable widely to bio-sensing
S. S. Sridharamurthy, et al. Lab on a Chip 2006,
vol. 7, pp. 840-842
56Inactivation/Decontamination Goals
Agent Focus
- Near-term actionable decontamination procedures
for food system facilities in case of an event - Mid-term safer/more effective decontamination
technical strategies for food system facilities - Food processing protocols to mitigate the public
health implications of potential contamination
agents
57Disposal Goals
Agent Focus
- Near-term actionable disposal protocols for
contaminated food in case of an event - Environmental safety
- Regulatory/community considerations
- Mid-term safer/more community acceptable
strategies for disposal of contaminated food
58NCFPD Primary Themes
System Focus
Agent Focus
- Disseminating NCFPD Products
- Training Scholars and Professionals
- Risk Communication
Training Focus
59Education Goals
Training Focus
- A comprehensive educational program that
addresses the educational content needs for food
defense - A learning community of experts in the fields of
education, security, food supply and public
health - Educational needs assessment across the food
supply chain - Educational resources developed by others, vetted
by education team and enhanced utilization - New courses, certificates and continuing
education content to close gaps in food defense
education
60Risk Communication Goals
Training Focus
- Best practices, key messages and metamessaging
strategies and subject matter experts for
different scenarios - Curriculum, training materials and programs to
train risk communicators for food system
catastrophic events - Capabilities for real time risk communication
support in the case of an actual event
61Goal Reduce outrage so people dont take
unnecessary precautions
High
Crisis Communication
Fear (Outrage)
Public Relations
Precaution Advocacy
Low
High
Danger (Hazard)
62Goal Increase concern for a real hazard to
motivate preventive action
High
Outrage Management
Crisis / Emergency Communication
Fear (Outrage)
Public Relations
Low
High
Danger (Hazard)
63Goal Acknowledge hazard, validate concern,
give people ways to respond
High
Outrage Management
Fear (Outrage)
Public Relations
Precaution Advocacy
Low
High
Danger (Hazard)
64Summary
- Great need for research and education to defend
the safety of the food system - Cross cutting systems approach to drive unique
benefits in food system defense - Fundamental research program reinforced by
stakeholder relevant, applied research programs - Diverse and strong partnerships to deliver user
relevant science to security solutions - Clear technology transfer plans for research
products
65Fighting terrorism is like being a goalkeeper.
You can make a hundred brilliant saves but the
one shot that people remember is the one that
gets past you.
- Paul Wilkinson, Daily Telegraph, London, 9/ 1/ 92
66- Defending the safety of the food systemthrough
research and education
Frank Busta , Director NCFPD http//www.ncfpd.umn
.edu