United States

Department of

Agriculture

Food Defense 

in FSIS-Regulated 

Establishments

Food Safety and Inspection Service

 

February 2015

Food Defense Tools & Resources

Tools & Training:

General Food Defense Plan — Created by FSIS to help 

small and very small plants easily adopt a functional food 

defense plan (also available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, 

and Vietnamese).

Food Defense Plan Builder — A user-friendly software 

program that assists facilities with developing functional 

food defense plans. 

Food Defense & Recall Preparedness: A Scenario-Based 

Exercise Tool — Can easily be used by establishments to 

test security measures and recall procedures, allowing establishments to maintain a functional food defense plan 

(can be completed in 1 hour).

Food Defense Risk Mitigation Tool — Helps to identify 

applicable mitigation strategies.

Food Defense 101 — Preparedness training against an intentional attack on the food supply.

Carver + Shock Primer Software — A tool for conducting 

vulnerability assessments.

Guidance:

Food defense guidance is available for food processors, 

importers, transporters, distributors, and consumers (also 

available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese).

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

All tools and resources can be found at

www.fsis.usda.gov/FoodDefense.

For Additional Questions 

or 

More Information:

Small Plant Help Desk:

Infosource@fsis.usda.gov

1-877-FSIS-HELP or 1-877-374-7435

FSIS 24-hour emergency number:

1-866-395-9701

FSIS Food Defense Assessment Staff:

fooddefense@fsis.usda.gov

United States

Department of

Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250

1-866-395-9701

fooddefense@fsis.usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

1

Food Safety and Inspection Service

Food Defense Guidelines for the 

Transportation and Distribution 

of Meat, Poultry, and Processed 

Egg Products

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Revised September 2013

FoodDefenseTransport_ocEdits.indd 1 10/30/13 12:11 PM
What Is Food Defense?

Food defense is the protection of food products 

from intentional contamination or adulteration 

where there is an intent to cause public health harm 

or economic disruption.

How Does Food Defense Differ From 

Food Safety?

Food safety focuses on the protection of food 

products from unintentional adulteration, while 

food defense focuses on protection from intentional

adulteration.

Potential Impacts of an Attack on the 

Food Supply:

• Public health 

• Economic

• Psychological

Food Defense Plans

A food defense plan is a tool that helps an 

establishment identify measures to protect food 

and food processes from intentional harm. 

Currently, food defense plans are voluntary for FSISregulated establishments.

Not only is it important for an establishment to 

have a food defense plan, but it is important for 

the plan to be functional. A functional food defense 

plan is:

• Written/developed – the plan is documented 

and signed.

• Implemented – preventive measures are 

implemented to ensure a base level of “common 

sense” security.

• Tested – security measures are regularly monitored.

• Reviewed and maintained – the plan is reviewed at least annually and revised as needed.

Food Defense Plan Benefits:

A functional food defense plan may help to:

• Reduce risk of unsafe product and economic 

loss;

• Reduce theft;

• Reduce need for additional regulation on food 

defense; and

• Reduce company liability.

Food Defense Plans & FSIS-Regulated 

Establishments

USDA Goal: Adoption of functional food defense plans 

within 90 percent of FSIS-regulated establishments by 2015.

Annual Food Defense Plan Survey: Adoption of functional 

food defense plans in FSIS-regulated establishments is 

measured via an annual food defense plan survey of FSIS 

inspection personnel.

There has been a continued positive trend in the adoption 

of functional food defense plans. As of 2014, 84 percent of 

FSIS-regulated establishments had a functional plan.

*The percentage of functional food defense plans in FSIS 

establishments has continued to increase since 2006.

Food Defense Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do very small establishments benefit from having 

a food defense plan?

A: Yes! All establishments, regardless of size, are 

susceptible to threats and therefore benefit from having 

a functional food defense plan. 

Q: My establishment has a written food defense plan. 

Is that good enough?

A: While having a written food defense plan is a step 

in the right direction, FSIS recommends the adoption 

of a functional plan, which is also implemented, tested 

regularly, and reviewed and maintained at least annually.

Q: Where can I find resources to help develop, 

implement, and exercise my functional food defense 

plan?

A: Multiple tools have been developed to help an 

establishment adopt a functional food defense plan. 

Please see the “Food Defense Tools & Resources” section 

within this brochure for a list of available resources.