Surprisingly, strategists have focused on airborne bioterrorist attacks. The only documented successful case of bioterrorism in the United States occurred using a common foodborne pathogen, Salmonella Typhimurium, to contaminate restaurant salad bars. While past terrorist events are not adequate to forecast future terrorist activities, the comparative technological ease of a foodborne attack makes it more likely. Moreover, there are numerous points from the farm to the table that are vulnerable to attack. The current food safety infrastructure needs to be strengthened to better protect the public and respond to foodborne bioterrorism. Knowledge of the viability of the potential agents in foods during production, processing and preparation is critical to understanding the attendant public health impact of a bioterrorist attack. An increased understanding of the pathogenicity of potential bioterrorist agents to the general public and susceptible sub-populations is also needed. Useful technological advances are needed, including the development of on-site real-time detection of pathogens in food during processing and at retail. Finally, further research is needed to develop validated laboratory protocols for the isolation and identification of a wider variety of pathogens from a food matrix. To address these needs and develop a more effective public health response to foodborne bioterrorism, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is enhancing its collaboration with state and local health and agriculture departments, first-level emergency response agencies, and Department of Defense agencies.
Learning Objectives: Recognize the potential threat to the food supply by bioterrorist actions and identify the federal, state, and local agencies that are working to prevent such events
Keywords: Bioterrorism, Food Safety
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.