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FSIS Security Guidelines for Food Processors
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Note: This text version is provided to ensure accessibility. A fully-illustrated, PDF version is also available.
The FSIS Security Guidelines for Food Processors are designed to assist Federal and State
inspected plants that produce meat, poultry, and egg products in developing preventative
food security measures. Operators are encouraged to review their current procedures and
controls to address the potential for intentional and unintentional contamination and make
appropriate improvements.
These guidelines were developed to meet the particular needs of meat, poultry, and egg
processing plants and to be readily adaptable by plant officials. While the guidelines are
voluntary and plants may choose to adopt measures suggested by many different sources, it
is vital that all food businesses take steps to ensure the security of their operations.
FSIS recognizes that not all of the guidance contained in this document will be appropriate
or practical for every facility. Operators should review the guidelines in each section that
relates to a component of their operation, and assess which preventative measures are suitable.
It is recommended that operators consider the goal of the preventative measure, assess whether
the goal is relevant to their operation, and, if it is, design an approach that is both
efficient and effective to accomplish the goal under their conditions of operation.
For questions or clarification about these guidelines, contact the FSIS Technical Service
Center at 1-800-233-3935.
FOOD SECURITY PLAN MANAGEMENT
- A food security management team and a food security management coordinator should
be identified for each plant or company. Each member should be assigned clear responsibilities.
- A food security plan using established risk management principles should be developed and
implemented. The plan should include procedures for handling threats and actual cases of
product tampering and an evacuation plan for each facility.
- Corrective action taken in all cases of product tampering should ensure that adulterated or
potentially injurious products do not enter commerce.
- The plan should include the immediate recall of adulterated products from trade and consumer
channels. Safe handling and disposal of products contaminated with chemical or biological agents
should also be included in the plan.
- A relationship should be established with appropriate analytical laboratories for possible
assistance in the investigation of product-tampering cases.
- Procedures for notifying appropriate law enforcement and public health officials when a food
security threat is received, or when evidence of actual product tampering is observed, should be
detailed in the plan.
- Specially designated entry points for emergency personnel should be identified in the plan.
- Current local, State and Federal Government Homeland Security contacts and public health
officials should be listed in the plan. This list should be updated regularly.
- Members of the food security management team should be trained in all provisions of the plan.
Drills should be conducted periodically. The plan should be periodically reviewed and revised as
needed.
- Food security inspections of the facility should be conducted regularly by plant officials to
verify key provisions of the plan.
- All employees should be encouraged to report any sign of possible product tampering or break
in the food security system. Consider implementing an award system or establishing performance
standards related to food security consciousness.
- All threats and incidents of intentional product tampering should be immediately investigated
and reported to the local law enforcement officials and the FSIS/State Inspector in-Charge.
- Liaison with local Homeland Security officials and other law enforcement officials should be
pre-established by the food security management team.
OUTSIDE SECURITY
- Plant boundaries should be secured to prevent unauthorized entry. "No Trespassing" signs should
be posted.
- Integrity of the plant perimeter should be monitored for signs of suspicious activity or
unauthorized entry.
- Outside lighting should be sufficient to allow detection of unusual activities.
- All access points into the establishment should be secured by guards, alarms, cameras or
other security hardware consistent with national and local fire and safety codes.
- Emergency exits should be alarmed and have self-locking doors that can be opened only from
the inside.
- Doors, windows, roof openings, vent openings, trailer bodies, railcars and bulk storage tanks
should be secured (e.g., locks, seals, sensors) at all times.
- Outside storage tanks for hazardous materials and potable water supply should be protected
from, and monitored for, unauthorized access.
- An updated list of plant personnel with open or restricted access to the establishment should
be maintained at the security office.
- Entry into establishments should be controlled by requiring positive identification (e.g.,
picture IDs, sign-in and sign-out at security or reception, etc.).
- Incoming and outgoing vehicles (both private and commercial) should be inspected for unusual
cargo or activity.
- Parking areas for visitors or guests should be situated at a safe distance from the main
facility. Vehicles of authorized visitors, guests and employees should be clearly marked (placards,
decals, etc.).
- Truck deliveries should be verified against a roster of scheduled deliveries. Unscheduled
deliveries should be held outside the plant premises, if possible, pending verification of shipper
and cargo.
INSIDE SECURITY
General Inside Security
- Restricted areas inside the plant should be clearly marked and secured.
- Access to central controls for airflow, water systems, electricity and gas should be restricted and
controlled.
- Updated plant layout schematics should be available at strategic and secured locations in the plant.
- Airflow systems should include a provision for immediate isolation of contaminated areas or rooms.
- Emergency alert systems should be fully operational and tested, and locations of controls should
be clearly marked.
- Access to in-plant laboratory facilities should be strictly controlled. Comprehensive and validated
security and disposal procedures should be in place, particularly for the control of reagents, hazardous
materials and live cultures of pathogenic bacteria.
- Visitors, guests and other non-plant employees (contractors, salespeople, truck drivers, etc.) should
be restricted to non-product areas unless accompanied by an authorized plant representative.
- Computer data systems should be protected using passwords, network firewalls and effective and current
virus detection systems.
SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING SECURITY
- Procedures should be in place to monitor the operation of pieces of equipment (blenders,
choppers, poultry chill tanks, etc.) to prevent product tampering.
- A program should be in place to ensure the timely identification, segregation and security of
all products involved in the event of deliberate product contamination.
- A validated procedure should be in place to ensure the trace-back and trace-forward of all
raw materials and finished products.
- Projected and actual use of restricted ingredients should be verified at the end of each day,
preferably by someone other than the employee who logs the ingredient.
- Returned goods should be examined for evidence of possible tampering before salvage or use
in rework. Records should be kept on the use of all returned goods in rework.
- The integrity of packaging materials of all spices and restricted ingredients
(including premixes prepared in the plant) should be verified before use.
- Accurate inventory of finished products should be maintained to allow detection of
unexplained additions to or withdrawals from existing stock.
- Access to product production or holding areas should be restricted to plant employees and
FSIS inspection personnel only.
- Plants should use a system that ensures clear identification of personnel to their specific
functions (e.g., colored garb).
- An updated daily or shift roster of plant personnel should be maintained and distributed to
plant supervisors.
STORAGE SECURITY
- Controlled access should be maintained for all product and ingredient storage areas. An
access log may be maintained.
- Security inspection of all storage facilities (including temporary storage vehicles) should
be performed regularly, and the results logged.
- A daily inventory of hazardous chemicals or other products should be made, and all
discrepancies should be investigated immediately.
- Hazardous chemical storage areas or rooms should be secured and isolated from other parts
of the plant. In addition, they should be constructed and safely vented in accordance with
national or local building codes.
SHIPPING AND RECEIVING SECURITY
- All outgoing shipments should be sealed with tamper-proof, numbered seals that are
included on the shipping documents.
- Establishments should require that incoming shipments be sealed with tamper-proof,
numbered seals, and that the seal numbers be shown on the shipping documents for
verification prior to entry to the plant.
- Shipping documents with suspicious alterations should be thoroughly investigated.
- All trailers on the premises should be locked and sealed when not being loaded or unloaded.
- A policy for off-hour deliveries should be established to ensure prior notice of such
deliveries and require the presence of an authorized individual to verify and receive the
shipment.
- Packaging integrity of all incoming shipments should be examined at the receiving dock
for evidence of tampering.
- Advance notification (by phone, e-mail, fax) should be required from suppliers for all
incoming deliveries. Notification should include pertinent details about the shipment,
including the name of the driver.
- The FSIS Inspector-in-Charge should be notified immediately when animals with unusual
behavior and symptoms are received at the plant.
- Loading docks should be secured to avoid unverified or unauthorized deliveries.
- The integrity of food security measures should be a significant consideration in the
selection of suppliersof meat and non-meat ingredients, compressed gas, packaging materials and labels.
WATER AND ICE SUPPLY SECURITY
- Outside access to wells, potable water tanks and ice-making equipment should be secured from
unauthorized entry.
- In-plant ice-making equipment and ice storage facilities should have controlled access.
- Potable and non-potable water lines in food processing areas should be inspected periodically
for possible tampering.
- The plant should arrange for immediate notification by local health officials in the event
the potability of the public water supply is compromised.
MAIL HANDLING SECURITY
- Mail handling activity should be done in a separate room or facility, away from in-plant food
production/processing operations, if possible.
- Mail handlers should be trained to recognize and handle suspicious pieces of mail using U.S.
Post Office guidelines.
PERSONNEL SECURITY
- A system of positive identification/recognition of all plant employees should be in place.
- Procedures should be established for controlled entry of employees into the plant during both
working and non-working hours.
- New hires (seasonal, temporary, permanent, and contract workers) should be subjected to background
checks before hiring.
- Orientation training on security procedures should be given to all plant employees.
- The plant should establish and enforce a policy on what personal items may and may not be allowed
inside the plant and within production areas.
If you have questions or need clarification about the guidelines, contact the FSIS Technical Service
Center at: 1-800-233-3935.
To obtain additional copies of the guidelines, visit the FSIS Web site at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/security/, or call 202-720-9113.
The Industry Self-Assessment Checklist for Food Security is available at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Self_Assessment_Checklist_ Food_Security.pdf
FSIS Model Food Security Plans for egg processing facilities, import establishments, meat and poultry
processing facilities, and meat and poultry slaughter facilities are available at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/Security/Security_Guidelines/
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs
and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication
of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center
at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W,
Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964
(voice or TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
April 2002
Slightly Revised June 2005
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