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Reprint from “The Packer” newspaper, April 1, 2002 Food security measures aimed at terrorist tampering with food are coming to farms, packinghouses Chuck Harvey, Staff Writer On a recent visit to a new packing plant I was told, “Smile. You are on a security camera.” I chuckled, but use of security measures is not considered a laughing matter among today’s growers and shippers. Strategically positioned in the sales room and in various locations inside and outside the plant, cameras stood watch over every aspect of the operation. Shippers admit they cannot guarantee total food safety, but they are taking steps to reduce the threat of terrorists tampering with our food supply. They say that in light of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, food safety programs alone are no longer enough. Food security must be part of the plan. In some cases that means security training programs and increased patrols for farms and packing facilities. It also means setting Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point-like programs that determine the most vulnerable points in which produce could be tampered with. Then shippers must determine how to plug those gaps. “There is concern about contamination of the food supply,” says Doug Sankey, sales manager of Sun W3est Fruit Co. Inc., Parlier, Calif. “Major chains are asking, “What are you doing?” “We have added surveillance monitoring for the entire facility,” Sankey said. Another question is how much security can realistically be provided considering tight profit margins and sagging budgets. Leaders of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, Alexandria, Va., have expressed concerns that some of the recently released security guidelines developed by the U.AS. Food And Drug Administration may be cost prohibitive. The main concern is on the recommendation for tamper-evident packaging. It would post a number of problems, including the elimination of bulk displays. But most shippers are looking at ways to keep their fields, orchards, and packing plants safe from terrorist tampering. The California Grape & Tree Fruit League is taking a proactive approach to the problem and developing cost-effective strategies. The league presented a workshop called” Food Security” Regulation Agriculture Against Terrorism” during its annual meeting in Newport Beach, Calif., on March 25. Three panelists offered ideas ranging from more frequent security patrols of farms to learning how to handle telephone threats. Jennifer Thomas, a fellow with the California Department of Health Services Food and Drug Branch, Sacramento, said her biggest concern is with open trucks. Truckloads with open produce containers are often parked for a time in fields or in the packing shed. Thomas provided the workshop audience with copies of the document called Interim Guidance for Food and Agriculture Safety and Security in California. It calls on growers to develop and implement a risk control system. In addition, locks, seals, sensors and door alarms must be in good order. Thomas refers to a food security program as “Operation Risk Management.” It doesn’t necessarily require security cameras in packing plants, but more shippers are installing them. Security experts admit it would be difficult and costly to install security cameras on farms, but they say farm patrols can be improved. But even that is challenge for the larger growers. “We have 10,000 people in fields in different locations for four to six weeks,” said Tim Shaheen, president and chief executive officer of Sun Work International Inc., Bakersfield, Calif. And the labor force is very transient, he said. Shaheen, chairman of United’s food security task force, said his company can’t put fences around all its farms, but it can focus more on inventory control and security, he said. Unfortunately, our food supply, like many other parts of American society, is susceptible to terrorist acts. E-mail
charvey@thepacker.com |