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Agroterrorism
Term Paper ID:40550
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Essay Subject:
This paper examines the threat to the food supply of the United States posed ...... More...
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18 Pages / 4050 Words
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Paper Abstract:
This paper examines the threat to the food supply of the United States posed by terrorists that may be able to introduce pathogens into animals or plants that could ultimately be consumed by humans and harm their health
Paper Introduction:
Food and Agriculture As a Relates to Homeland Security Introduction According to an article published by FDA Consumer protecting the U S food supply from terrorist threats is the focus of anew collaboration among federal government agencies states and privateindustry The FDA the U S Department of Agriculture the Department ofHomeland Security and the F B I are the federal partners in the StrategicPartnership Program AgroTerrorism Initiative This article adds that ensuring the safety of America\'s food supply isa top priority for
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Department of Agriculture, the Department ofHomeland Security, and the F.B.I. these agencies should seek additional authority from the Congress as needed to enhance security at food processors across the nation . According to this article, livestock illness and death may be noticedby farmers and ranchers before public health authorities become aware ofhuman health problems caused by exposure to a pathogen deliberatelyintroduced into the food supply. This plan defines a food related emergency as involving theunintentional a deliberate contamination, threatened or actual, of food.The goal of the federal model Food Emergency Response Plan is to develop auniform structure and content that will result in seamless regional andnational responses to food emergencies including terrorist attacks on thenation's food supply (2 6). Weaknesses in the food recallprograms heighten the risk that deliberately contaminated food will remainin the food supply and ultimately be consumed. The events of September 11, 2 1, as well as the discovery ofterrorist cells in Europe and the potential threat of a terrorist attack onAmerica as critical infrastructure have forced the FDA to sharpen its focuson protecting America's food supply. Nevertheless, an accidental or deliberate contamination of food or theintroduction of disease to livestock could undermine consumer confidence inthe government's ability to ensure the safety of U.S. These government agenciesare currently probing for weaknesses in the private sector that terroristsmay able to use to contaminate U.S. The FDA is also developing protectionstrategies to protect the food supply from terrorist threats. President Bush determined that the U.S. The USDA believes that it maybe able to require food processors to adopt certain security measures thatare closely related to sanitary conditions inside their facilities.However, the regulatory power of these federal agencies only goes so far.For example, the USDA could not require food processors to implementsecurity measures that are not associated with the immediate foodprocessing environment such as requiring fences, alarms, guards, detailedbackground checks on current and potential employees, or outside lightingand cameras. The federal governmentwill need to respond rapidly with diagnosis and appropriate medicaltreatment in order to contain and minimize any such event. According to Mr. Walker'stestimony, the patchwork nature of the federal food oversight system callsinto question whether the federal government can respond appropriately toinspect food production facilities, and identify and react quickly tooutbreaks of contaminated food, and focus appropriate attention onregulating and promoting the safety of the nation's food supply. Retrieved November 26, 2 7, from American Association of Meat Packers Web site: http://www.aamp.com /foodsafety/documents/NASDAFoodPlanTemplate 2 9 6.pdf ReferencesCrawford, Lester M. Other incidents of food-borne illness that happened as aresult of accidental contamination illustrate how widespread and costly ofthe effects of deliberate contamination might be. The NIH wasgiven the task of expanding ongoing projects and establishing newinitiatives to counter bioterrorism in the United States (Fauci, 2 2). Regrettably, diseasesthat affect animals such as cattle are relatively easy to introduce andtransmission is also relatively easy because there is no need to"weaponize" diseases in order to infect livestock. Walker in Congressionaltestimony published online, while America enjoys a plentiful food supplythat is generally considered to be safe, federal oversight of food safetyis fragmented. Agriculture has several characteristic that pose unique problems formanaging the threat of agroterrorism. Unfortunately, a few incidents have occurred. Still another cost would be a loss ofexport markets for certain food products grown or raised in the UnitedStates. In addition, the FDA continues to train its employees and furtherdevelop the necessary scientific, technical, and investigative skills tointegrate food safety and food security activities. Retrieved November 26, 2 7, from US Government Accountability Office Web site: http://www. Thegoal of this plan is to enhance food security through prevention,detection, response, and recovery efforts relating to deliberatecontamination of America's food supply. The federal agencies are only now beginning toconduct pilot visits to private sector businesses to test forvulnerabilities and to raise awareness about the need for food security. Food and Drug Administration. The federal agency or agencies responsible for food safety haveno authority to compel private sector companies to carry out recalls withthe one exception of the FDA's authority to require a recall for infantformula. Afundamental re-examination of the federal food safety system is warranted.This re-examination would need to address criticisms that have been raisedabout the government's ability to react promptly to a violent terroristattack involving the nation's food supply. Therefore, the USDA and FDA offer guidance and encourage companiesto participate in voluntary recalls as necessary. Under the federal Bioterrorism Prevention Act, the FDA has been givennew authority to protect the nation's food supply against the threat ofintentional contamination. According to Dr. Crawford, foodsecurity and food safety are integrated goals. However, this program istruly in its infancy. Foodsecurity requires effective and enhanced coordination among many governmentagencies at the federal, state and local levels. Public confidence in the federalgovernment would be eroded the federal authorities are unable to preventsuch an attack would protect the nation's food supply. 39, 6.(2 5).Uncle Sam wants you. Veterinarians will work with ranchers andfarmers to prevent both the introduction and the spread of any dangerousdiseases into livestock. The FDA has also established an Office of CrisisManagement to coordinate its emergency response activity within the FDA andin coordination with other federal state and local agencies. FDA Consumer. Ironically, the cost for food products that were not contaminatedand considered safe would rise dramatically based on the laws of supply anddemand resulting in consumers paying more for food. The partnership that has been created among federal agenciesis one indication of the federal government's commitment to preventingAgroterrorism. He adds that the FDA is working to addressissues and problems as quickly as possible (Crawford, 2 3). The release of thesepathogens could also result in widespread panic. The FDA'sguidelines have been sent to food producers as well as processors, foodtransporters, importers, retailers, and food service establishments.According to Dr. Crawford, as part of its efforts to anticipate threats tothe food supply, the FDA has conducted extensive vulnerability assessmentson different categories of food. disinfect all reusable animal health equipment . Another cost would involve health care costs forhumans affected by contaminated food. According to a statement made by Dr. Lester Crawford in Congressionaltestimony published online by the National Pork Producers Council, thefederal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates approximately 8 percent of America's food supply. The cost tothe U.S. and the U.S.D.A. The Congress must enactcomprehensive, uniformed and appropriate food safety legislation. Conclusion: The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2 1 haveheightened concerns about agriculture's vulnerability to terrorism. However becausethese guidelines are voluntary, neither federal government agency enforcesor monitors or documents their implementation. food supply (Monke, 2 4). According to an essay published online by the American Association ofMeat Packers, the National Association of State Department of Agricultureand the U.S. In addition, the federalgovernment must develop the capabilities required to deliver on its promiseof ensuring that the nation's food supply remains safe. require visitors to wear clean clothing and . Emergency response plan; Food emergency template. Approximately 75 people became ill. However, as mentionedabove, there is no comprehensive information on the extent to which foodprocessing companies have adopted voluntary security measures based onguidelines provided by the FDA and USDA (2 3). food supplies. The threat of bioterrorism has been considered for yearsas a potential terrorist threat by civilian agencies including the NationalInstitutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, andthe U.S. Departmentof Agriculture authority to regulate the safety of the U.S. the FDA and USDA should provide training for all food inspection personnel to enhance their awareness and their ability to discuss security measures with plant personnel at food processing facilities . The FDA, the U.S. Fauci writes that among the biggest bioterror threats are the virusesthat cause smallpox and hemorrhagic fevers including Ebola, as well as thedeliberate introduction into the food supply of the bacteria that causeanthrax and plague. Retrieved November 26, 2 7, from US General Accounting Office Web site: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d 3342high.pdf(2 5). food supplies. Retrieved November 27, 2 7, from The University of Nebraska at Lincoln Web site: http://ianrnews.unl.edu/ static/ 111121.shtml(2 3, February). For example,in 1984 a religious cult poisoned several salad bars in restaurants inOregon with a specific strain of Salmonella bacteria. For example, farmers and ranchers can and should carefully inspectall animals being bought or sold. This single outbreak was estimatedto have cost approximately $18 million including $6.9 million for medicalcare and $11.2 million in time lost from work. Protecting the nation's food supply. are the federal partners in the StrategicPartnership Program AgroTerrorism Initiative. Stringent securitymeasures could reduce the risk of agroterrorism. The FDA is responsible for ensuring thatthe drugs, biological products, medical devices and radiological productsare both safe and effective. This article adds that ensuring the safety of America's food supply isa top priority for the Bush Administration and for the U.S. The FDA emphasizes that tampering and contamination could occur at anypoint along the supply chain from farm or ranch to market. (2 7, February 8). Another costassociated with intentional contamination would involve containment andtreatment of animals. Both the F.D.A. Intentional contamination of the food supply in the United Statescould have severe adverse consequences for U.S. Testimony on Homeland Security and Bioterrorism Issues. According to Mr. Fauci, the range of pathogens that might be usedeffectively in a bioterrorist attack on American civilians or their foodsupply is much wider than what could be effectively used against the U.S.military. The government's goal is to work cooperatively withcompanies in the private sector up and down the food supply chain toprotect agricultural commodities and food from terrorism (2 5). gao.gov/new.items/d 7449t.pdf(2 1, November 12). This recall authority includes the authority to require acompany to notify the agency when it has distributed an unsafe product, toorder a recall, to establish specific recall requirements, and to imposemonetary penalties when a company violates those recall requirements. To increaseits capacity in this area, the FDA is working in close cooperation withother federal and state agencies to establish a network of laboratoriesacross the country capable of quickly and accurately analyzing a largenumber of samples of food for contaminants. According to an essay written by Jim Monke and published online by aFederation of American Scientists, the potential of terrorist attacksagainst agriculture targets is increasingly recognized as a nationalsecurity threat to the United States. There are approximately 15 agencies administering at least3 laws relating to food safety. Retrieved November 26, 2 7, from Federation of American Scientists Web site: http://www.fas.org/irp /crs/RL32521.pdfWalker, David M. Retrieved November 26, 2 7, from The National Pork Producers Council Web site: http://www.nppc.org/news/releases/2 3/agroterrorism1.pdfFauci, Anthony (2 2, June 1 ). Homeland defense is a multifacetedchallenge in which defense against bioterrorism is a critical component. Food processing security. 84, 12.(2 6, February 9). President Bush proposed a$1.75 billion budget for fiscal year 2 3 alone to fund bioterrorismdefense research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2 3, November 19). If undetected, their release into the food supplycould cause high death rates and serious illness. Agriculturalspecialists believe that vigilance and preparation can help preventbioterrorism. The task of protecting the nation's food supply is daunting. Other measures that can and should be takeninclude: . lock and monitor feed storage facilities . food supply from terrorist threats is the focus of anew collaboration among federal government agencies, states and privateindustry. the economy. Integrating the fragmented federal foodsafety system presents significant challenges. According to an essay published online on the University of Nebraskaat Lincoln website, while bioterrorist attacks on agriculture may seemunlikely, it is nevertheless a serious concern for state and federalagencies. Department of HomelandSecurity would be the single federal government agency in charge ofunifying the government's efforts to develop and implement countermeasuresto chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. The FDA has issued guidance on the securitymeasures that the food industry may take to minimize the risk that the foodthey grow or produce will be subject to tampering or to terrorist actions.The FDA has offered farmers, ranchers, other food producers and foodprocessors advice about how to protect food supplies against deliberatecontamination. Companies that volunteer to participate allowthese federal agencies to determine the level of security typically foundin the private sector and to refine recommendations for improving foodsecurity throughout the private sector (2 5). The FDA is developing the capacity to identify specific threats orattacks on US food supplies. Department ofAgriculture. The U.S. economy would include the value of lost production as well as thecost of destroying diseased or potentially diseased products. Agricultural terrorism threat requires vigilance. The FDA recentlyannounced the availability of a model Food Emergency Response Plan. According to this article, the goal of these inspections is not topunish private sector companies for lax security. Instead the goal is forfederal agencies and the private sector to work together to identifysecurity gaps and share information on lessons learned about agriculturesecurity and food defense. both federal agencies should identify what additional authority they may need relating to security measures at food processing facilities to reduce the risk of deliberate contamination of the food supply . disinfect vehicles carrying livestock after use . As a result, the extent towhich companies in the food industry voluntarily accept and adopt theserecommendations is unknown. food supplies.Undermining confidence in the federal government would likely be one of thepolitical objectives of a terrorist group. These potential terrorist agents are relatively easy toobtain and to culture. Congress, Dr. Crawford asked the Congressto fund the creation of a national incident management program in the eventof deliberate contamination of U.S. As an agricultural firstresponder, veterinarians should be able to recognize diseases that threatenlivestock as well as humans. Among these challenges arehow agencies can integrate and share accountability for their activitiesand how they can adopt more innovative and more cost-effective methods tosafeguard the nation's food supply. Congressand the executive branch must work cooperatively to develop a program inwhich the potential for agroterrorism is reduced. These assessments help determine the mostserious risks of intentional contamination using various biological andchemical agents. restrict entry to certain areas where biological contamination could occur liquids before coming into contact with animals or their food . Food safety and food security are top priorities for theFDA. Another way of preventing a bioterrorismincident involves calling a veterinarian if something appears out of theordinary in an animal's appearance or behavior. According to an article published in Progressive Grocer, the U.S.Department of Agriculture, the F.D.A. The Departmentof Homeland Security has been vigorous in its efforts to reduce threats toAmerican citizens from foreign and home-grown extremists and terrorists.Nevertheless, the threat of bioterrorism in America is real. Mr. Walker reminded members of Congress that food recalls arevoluntary. food supply,but they do not authorize these federal agencies to impose securityrequirements on food processing facilities. According to a statement made by David M. Agroterrorism, Threats and preparedness. For example, agricultural productionis geographically dispersed and almost always in unsecured environments. Thefact that food recalls remain voluntary is compelling but anecdotalevidence that federal oversight of food safety still has many gaps thatcould easily be exploited by terrorists (Walker, 2 7). Dr. Crawford notes that the most critical component of controlling thethreat of deliberate, food-borne contamination involves the ability torapidly test large numbers of samples of potentially contaminated food fora broad array of biological, chemical, and radiological agents. Simple steps can be taken to reduce thisthreat. According to a report published online by the United States GeneralAccounting Office on food processing security, federal food safetyregulations give the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. For example, in 1994,224, people were infected with a particular strain of Salmonella aftereating a particular brand of ice cream. The FDA's primary function is to protectpublic health. In fiscalyear 2 2, the FDA hired 635 employees to address food safety and securityissues. Unfortunately for Americans, terrorists seeking to disrupt theAmerican economy may look at agricultural terrorism as an option because ofthe low technology nature of this particular threat. Inaddition, livestock are frequently concentrated in confined locations, thentransported and co-mingled with other herds to meat packing facilities.Also, agriculture and food production generally have received lessattention in the past from counterterrorism experts. Also, the delay theonset of symptoms of many diseases that could be deliberately introducedinto livestock would provide time for terrorists to make their get-away.This reduces the chances that agroterrorists would be caught and prosecutedfor their crimes. prohibit visitors from having direct contact with animals or their food and water . This may delay recognition of symptoms in case of abioterrorist attack on the U.S. General Accounting Office made several specificrecommendations relating to food security including these: . Progressive Grocer. Food and Agriculture As a Relates to Homeland Security Introduction: According to an article published by FDA Consumer,protecting the U.S. Dr. Crawford admitsthat there is a significant amount of work to be done by the FDA tosafeguard America's food supply. According to a statement by Anthony Fauci made in his Congressionaltestimony which was published online by the National Institutes of Health,the September 11, 2 1 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon haveforever changed Americans' thinking about this country's vulnerability toterrorist attacks. federal agencies should have the authority to require that food processors adopt specific, stringent security measures Historically the US food supply has been mostly secure from deliberatecontamination. have issued voluntary securityguidelines to help food processors in the private sector to identifymeasures to prevent the risk of deliberate contamination. civilians or against theirfood supplies is likely to be sudden and unexpected. It addresses a full range of processesincluding assessment, prevention and response throughout the foodproduction and distribution channels. report incidents of high morbidity and mortality to local veterinarians or state authorities (2 1). A bioterrorist attack against U.S. In his statement to the U.S. Agroterrorism; the threat to America's breadbasket. and the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation take food security very seriously. The FDA's food safety andsecurity system is comprehensive. Ironically, other federal agencies such as those responsible for thesafety of toys have specific recall authority not available to the USDA andFDA for food. Retrieved November 26, 2 7, from Office of legislative policy and analysis Web site: http://olpa.od.nih.gov/hearings/1 7/session2/testimonies/faucitest.aspMonke, Jim (2 4, August 13). It also requiresidentification of potential vulnerabilities and development of programs tomitigate these risks. Testimony before the subcommittee on agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies, committee on appropriations, House of Representatives. Food and Drug Administration in cooperation with federalagencies including the Department of Homeland Security are developingprograms to respond to the threat of agroterrorism. Ironically, pastsuccess in keeping many diseases out of the United States means that manyscientists and veterinarians lack direct experience with certain types ofanimal-based illnesses. The resulting losses of a terrorist attack could include animalsuffering, economic damage to markets at home and abroad as well as dangerto public health resulting from an unsafe food supply.
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