FDA and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have teamed up to launch the Food Defense Tool, a free online resource aimed at helping agricultural producers identify and resolve potential vulnerabilities in their operations.

United Fresh Food Safety and Technology Council Vice Chair Walter Ram of the Giumarra Companies and Council members Gale Prince, formerly of the Kroger Company and Bob Mills of Misionero Produce participated in a focus panel to review the new Food Defense Tool.

"The new food defense tool offered by FDA is a refreshing change from anything offered previously," said Prince. "From my review it is much more user friendly than earlier food defense tools.  It focuses the attention to those areas in your operation where you are most vulnerable, so appropriate corrective actions can be implemented in protecting your brand."

"The FDA has developed a functional prototype Food Defense Tool that can help a grower identify if there is a potential food defense issue with their location," added Mills.

According to the FDA and APHIS, farms of all sizes can benefit from the online resource. Producers are asked a series of questions about each component of their production process and based on the responses, the tool provides scores for those components and specific risk mitigation measures are recommended.  These might include upgrades or enhancements to physical security, process operations, or a change in personnel practices.

"Food defense programs and tools are advancing rapidly and in a form that is becoming directly applicable to the fresh produce industry," said Ram.

For additional information on the tool, please contact Dr. David Gombas, United Fresh senior vice president of food safety and technology at 202-303-3411.