You can find this resource at 

Emergency_Response/Security_

Guidelines/index.asp.

What is Food Defense? 

Food defense is putting measures in place that reduce 

the chances of someone intentionally contaminating 

the food supply in order to kill or hurt people, disrupt 

our economy, or ruin your business. Unfortunately, the 

things you do to keep food safe are not always enough 

to protect foods from intentional contamination. This 

brochure will help you find out what food defense 

measures you need to put in place to protect your 

customers and business. 

Who Might Contaminate a Food Product? 

As a business owner, you must be alert to the potential 

for someone to contaminate your products. Anyone 

is capable of hurting or disrupting it. An attack can 

originate from within or outside your warehouse and 

distribution center. An attacker could even pose as one 

of the following: 

customer or potential customer, 

truck driver making deliveries, 

salesperson visiting your business, 

utility representative, or 

contractor doing repairs or performing services. 

Keep in mind that a current or former employee, who 

has a grudge against you or your business, also could 

pose a danger. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture You can find this resource Food Safety and Inspection Service 

at www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/ 

Guidance_Document_ 

Warehouses.pdf. 

GUIDE TO 


DEVELOPING A FOOD DEFENSE PLAN
 

FOR
 

WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
 

JANUARY 2008 

BY COMPLETING PAGE 11 IN THIS GUIDE, WAREHOUSE 


AND DISTRIBUTION CENTERS WILL HAVE A FOOD 


DEFENSE PLAN FOR THEIR OPERATION 


Why Develop a Food Defense Plan? 

A Food Defense Plan:
 

will help you identify measures to keep food in your 


facility safe and secure,
 

will help you to quickly respond to and recover 


from an emergency, and 

will help you provide a safe product to your 

customers, maintain a secure working environment 

for your employees, and protect your business. 

In today’s environment, many customers want their suppliers 

to have a Food Defense Plan. To assist owners and operators 

of warehouse or distribution facilities, the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service 

(FSIS) has created this brochure to help you develop a 

practical Food Defense Plan for your business. 

Step 1 – Conduct a Self-Assessment 

Take some time to review the simple food defense measures 

below. Check (√) those that you currently have in place in 

your operation. 

Food defense measures for 

outside your building 

There is an outside surveillance system. 

Emergency exits have self-locking doors and/or alarms. 

You can find this resource at 

Emergency_Response/Security_ 

Guidelines/index.asp. 

Food defense measures for 

inside your building 

Security cameras are installed and tested regularly. 

Alarm system is in place and is tested regularly. 

Visitors and customers are asked to sign in and provide 

identification. 

Visitors, guests, and other non-employees 

(e.g., contractors, salespeople, truck drivers, etc.) are 

restricted to non-product areas unless they are with 

an employee. 

Storage areas for dangerous products or chemicals 

such as pesticides, industrial chemicals, and cleaning 

materials, are restricted or locked. 

Tracking system is in place (for which customers 

bought what products) in case of a recall. 

Product recall plan is in place. 

Food defense measures for 

shipping and receiving 

Trailers are locked and/or sealed when not being loaded 

or unloaded. 

Trucks are supervised while loading or unloading. 

Products are checked for tampering. 

Advance notification from suppliers (by phone, e-mail, 

or fax) is required for all incoming deliveries. 

www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Defense_&_ www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Defense_&_

1

Food Defense

Guidelines for

Slaughter and

Processing

Establishments

This publication supersedes

FSIS Security Guidelines for Food Processors 

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Food Safety

and Inspection

Service

October 2009 
 

Food defense measures to protect your

business from people who intend to do harm 

Perform background checks for all of your employees. 

Ensure that employees, visitors, and contractors 

(including construction workers, cleaning crews, and 

truck drivers) are identified in some manner at all 

times while on the premises. 

Control entry of employees and contractors into 

the plant during working hours (e.g., coded doors, 

receptionist on duty, swipe card, etc.). 

Control entry of employees and contractors into the 

plant during non-working hours (e.g., key cards or 

code numbers). 

Step 2 – Develop a Food Defense Plan 

Now that you have conducted this quick self-assessment 

and put a check by the measures that your warehouse 

and distribution center has in place, take a look at 

the measures where you didn’t put a check. Are there 

practical improvements you could use to make your 

building and food safer? If so, we encourage you to 

make these improvements. Keep in mind that not 

all measures are necessary for all warehouse and 

distribution centers. For example, if you are not able to 

check “Visitors and customers are asked to sign in and 

provide identification,” perhaps you do not need this 

measure because you currently do not allow visitors or 

guests beyond a front desk, and they are not allowed in 

any other area of the building. Not checking a box does 

not necessarily mean there is a serious problem with 

security at your warehouse and distribution center. 

However, it should cause you to think about food 

defense measures that your facility may need. 

Once you have identified the food defense measures you 

are currently practicing and those that you will need to 

add to your warehouse and distribution center plan, you 

should write these down. This will become your Food 

Defense Plan. An easy way to develop your Food Defense 

Plan can be found on the FSIS Website (www.fsis.usda.gov/ 

PDF/Guidance_Document_Warehouses.pdf). There you 

will find a helpful resource guide called “Developing a Food 

Defense Plan for Warehouse and Distribution Centers.” 

This resource guide offers more detailed information about 

food defense measures. In Step 2 of the resource guide, you 

will find a template to write down what you intend to do. 

Step 3 – Implement Your 

Food Defense Plan
 

Now that you have developed a Food Defense Plan, put it 

into action by implementing the food defense measures. 

Next, test your plan. Then train your employees in food 

defense awareness and reporting procedures. Remember 

to review your plan at least once per year to ensure it is 

effective and make necessary changes or improvements. 

What do I do if there is an emergency or I think

that a food product has been contaminated? 

In the event of a food-safety emergency, your first step should 

always be to contact local law enforcement – dial 911. 

Then call one of the following: 

FSIS 24-hour emergency number (866) 395-9701 

for meat, poultry, or processed egg products 

FDA 24-hour emergency number (866) 300-4374 

for all food products not listed above

 USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

Slightly revised March 2013 

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Guide to 

Food Defense 

In Warehouse and 

Distribution Centers 

Protect your customers, 

your employees, and 

your business.