FSIS Food Safety 

and Food Defense 

Information for 

In-Commerce Firms

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

FSIS is the regulatory agency within USDA responsible for 

protecting public health by ensuring that meat, poultry, 

and processed egg products distributed in-commerce are 

safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. 

Food Contamination Can Be Either 

Unintentional or Intentional

The U.S. food supply is potentially vulnerable to 

intentional contamination. As such, CIs also conduct 

surveillance activities related to food defense. The 

main goal of these activities is to identify potential 

security vulnerabilities that increase the risk of 

intentional contamination for meat, poultry, and 

processed egg products at in-commerce facilities. 

What Is the Difference Between 

Food Safety and Food Defense?

Food safety refers to protecting the food supply 

from unintentional contamination because of 

pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, 

Campylobacter, and E. coli O157:H7 and chemical and 

physical hazards. 

Food defense refers to protecting the food supply from 

intentional contamination with chemical, biological, 

physical, or radiological agents. Food defense activities 

can include implementing additional security measures 

to: 

reduce the risk of someone intentionally 

contaminating the food supply, and

minimize the impact of an incident.

Food Defense is VOLUNTARY. Businesses are 

not required to implement food defense measures. 

However, it is a best practice that further protects 

public health and the business brand. The incommerce surveillance activities related to food 

defense can assist facility owners or operators with 

identifying potential vulnerabilities. 

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

FSIS Compliance Investigators

FSIS Compliance Investigators (CIs) are responsible 

for carrying out the statutory authorities of the agency 

through surveillance, investigation, product control, and 

enforcement to ensure public health protection. 

The main goal of these activities is to protect consumers 

during foodborne illness outbreaks and from 

unintentionally and intentionally contaminated foods.

FSIS in-commerce surveillance activities related to 

food safety include verification that meat, poultry, 

and processed egg products are wholesome and not 

adulterated. CIs will verify that: 

Products are not held under insanitary conditions 

under which they may become contaminated or 

harmful to health. 

Records are kept in a manner that correctly discloses 

all transactions involved in the business activity 

subject to FSIS regulations.

The USDA FSIS website (http://www.fsis.usda.gov) includes free food defense and emergency response resources and guidance information such as: 

 Guidance on developing a food defense plan Guidance on food defense for processors and distributors Guidance on food defense for transporters and warehouses Guidance on risk mitigation measures Guidance through askFSIS, a Web-based service through which 

clients can submit questions and receive responses.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Small Plant Help Desk at 1-877-FSISHELP (1-877-374-7435) or by emailing InfoSource@fsis.usda.gov.

Resources for Additional Information

May 2014
What Can a Business Expect When an FSIS 

Compliance Investigator Conducts In-Commerce 

Surveillance and Food Defense Activities? There are simple, low-cost measures you can 

implement to prevent your products from intentional 

contamination. One of the first and most important 

ways to protect your customers, employees, and 

business is to develop a Food Defense Plan. Key 

elements should address: 

Outside Security

Inside Security

Personnel Security

Incident Response

Other Food Defense Plan elements 

can include:

Prevent unauthorized access to food preparation 

and storage areas.

Monitor self-serve areas (e.g., salad bars, 

condiment areas) for evidence of tampering.

Require delivery personnel to sign in a logbook 

and present positive photo ID.

Restrict access to chemical storage areas.

Keep receiving dock doors locked from the inside.

Conduct background checks on employees.

Train employees on food defense awareness and 

on how to report suspicious incidents such as 

threatening telephone calls or customer behavior.

In the event of an incident, contact your local law 

enforcement.

By having a Food Defense Plan, you will contribute to a safer, more secure food supply. Additional 

benefits of a food defense plan may also include:

Reduction in the risk of unsafe products, theft, and economic losses.

Possible reduction in company liability.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Products?

The CI will present a business card and his/her 

credentials (e.g., name, phone numbers, office of 

employment location) upon arrival.

The CI will announce that he/she is there to conduct 

a surveillance or food defense activity. 

If CI is visiting a business whose activities are 

open to the public (e.g., a retail store), the CI is 

not required to make prior contact before or upon 

entering the firm. The CI is required to report to 

management personnel when discussing issues 

involving food safety/defense and any other type of 

visit.

During surveillance, the CI may ask questions about 

the conditions, storage, handling, preparation, and 

transportation of meat, poultry, or processed egg 

products. The CI may also take samples of these 

products. The CI may surveil appropriate equipment 

and the internal and external conditions of the 

facility. 

The CI will record any findings and present a hard 

copy, FSIS Form 5420-3, Food Defense Surveillance 

Findings, Sensitive Security Information, to the 

management of the facility.