IN.gov - Skip Navigation

Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.


Mobile Site RSS Feeds

Food Protection > Food Defense > Introduction Food Defense Program

Although there are no regulations in place that address food defense, the National Infrastructure Protection Center, which serves as the federal government’s focal point for threat assessment, warning, investigation, and response for threats or attacks against U.S. critical infrastructure has identified the food system as one of 13 critical infrastructure sectors. Under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, the scope of the President’s council on Food Safety is expanded to include other relevant agencies and organizations to create a food safety and security strategy addressing technologies, threat assessments, risk communication, and procedures for securing food processing and manufacturing facilities and modes of transportation.

In February of 2002, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) entered into a Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Cooperative Agreement U90/CCU 515024-03-3 and received bioterrorism funding from the Federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In the ISDH work plan submitted to CDC under focus area B (5), it addresses risk and vulnerability assessments of food and water. According to the CDC grant we are to “ensure the performance of risk and vulnerability assessments at Indiana food production, processing and/or distribution facilities”. To accomplish this task two new food defense specialists were hired in the ISDH Food Protection Program. These food defense specialists will be developing and implementing these risk and vulnerability assessments.

The Indiana food defense project will start with an industry survey to assess the current food defense situation in Indiana, which is currently unknown. The survey results are confidential documents protected by law and are not subject to public disclosure under IC 5-14-3-4(19). The information gathered will be secured in a specialized database for confidential information at ISDH. The results will then be analyzed to find where there are vulnerabilities in the food industry in Indiana.

A plan will then be developed to address the vulnerabilities and make progress over time to remedy them. The plan will be developed by the Indiana food defense and bioterrorism preparedness task force, which consists of stakeholders from industry, government, and academia. By involving all the stakeholders this task force will help guide the food defense specialists in carrying out their portion of the grant. This plan will be implemented by the food defense specialists and carried out over time while stimulating an on-going food defense discussion between government and industry.

In this post 9/11 environment we are all aware of the risks posed by terrorists. An attack on our nations food supply is a very realistic threat. Now our focus must shift to minimizing the risk of an attack and being prepared to respond. Focusing on food defense and assessing the risks and vulnerabilities at each individual food production facility is one way to work toward accomplishing this goal. It is imperative that industry, academia, and government enter into a partnership to assess the current situation and make improvements over time to secure our food supply.

Stay Connected

You are leaving the IN.gov website. By clicking OK, you will be taken to a website that is not affiliated with the State of Indiana and may have different privacy and security policies. The State of Indiana is not responsible for, and does not endorse, guarantee, or monitor content, availability, viewpoints, products, or services that are offered or expressed on this non IN.gov portal website.