U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
November 15, 2001


Frequently Asked Consumer Questions About
Food Safety and Terrorism


  1. What is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doing to protect the food supply against terrorism?

    Over the last few years, FDA has worked with food safety agencies at federal, state and local levels to significantly strengthen the Nation's food safety system across the entire distribution chain -- from the farm to the table. The main results of this cooperation -- more effective prevention programs, new surveillance systems, and faster foodborne illness outbreak response capabilities -- have already enabled the agency to protect the safety of our food supply against natural and accidental threats.

    In addition, since the September 11 attack, FDA has increased its emergency response capability by realigning resources for possible use to counter terrorism, and by reassessing and strengthening its emergency response plans. The agency also continues to work closely with other federal, state, and local food safety authorities and with regulatory agencies abroad to maximize coordination of efforts to protect food and to respond rapidly to evidence of threats to the food supply.

    All of these provisions and systems can be employed to prevent or respond to a terrorist assault on our food supply.


  2. Does FDA cooperate with industry in the defense against food terrorism?

    FDA is working with a broad spectrum of industries that has formed the Food Security Alliance, a group dedicated to strengthening the physical security of industrial food production. With help from the industry, FDA is developing a Food Security Guidance that food producers can use to improve the protection of their products against tampering or terrorist actions. The guide will be primarily focused on the management of food security as it applies to the plant, employees, raw materials, packaging, and finished products.


  3. Is anything being done to intensify the FDA surveillance of food imports and food production?

    The Administration has asked Congress for increased FDA resources to build up its food surveillance of both domestic and imported foods through these major actions:

    In addition to a request for increased resources for surveillance, the Administration is seeking further authority to strengthen FDA's oversight of food in the case of an emergency. The increased authority will allow FDA to require information from food producers that will enable the agency to rapidly address possible health hazards by quickly tracing the source and distribution of both domestic and imported food.

  4. What can consumers do to protect themselves and their families from food tampering or other kinds of food contamination?

    Consumers are the final judges of the safety of the food they buy. The essential step for their protection is to check whether the food package or can is intact before opening it. If it has been damaged, dented or opened prior to purchase, the contents should not be used. Consumers need to be alert also to abnormal odor, taste and appearance of a food item. If there is any doubt about its safety, don't eat it. If the food appears to have been tampered with, report it to one of the authorities listed below.

  5. What should consumers do if they suspect a food product has been contaminated or tampered with?

    If the suspected food product does NOT contain meat or poultry--such as seafood, produce, or eggs--consumers should notify the FDA 24-hour emergency number at 301-443-1240 or call the consumer complaint coordinator at their nearest FDA District Office. (See list below.)

    If the food product DOES contain meat or poultry, call the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555.


  6. Should consumers take antibiotics for protection against contaminated food?

    Antibiotics should not be taken preventively unless prescribed by a physician. Although antibiotics can be effective against some bacterial contaminants, they are not effective against viruses, chemicals or radiological substances.


  7. What food handling practices should consumers follow on a day- to-day basis to help prevent foodborne illness?

    Consumers can protect themselves by following basic safe food handling practices:


  8. Where can I get more information about food safety?

    For more information about food safety, call FDA's toll free consumer information line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD, or visit the World Wide Web at www.foodsafety.gov.


FDA's Consumer Complaint Coordinators

Alabama--(615) 781-5385, ext. 123
Alaska--(425) 483-4949
Arizona--(949) 798-7701
Arkansas--(214) 655-5310, ext. 521
California (Northern)--(510) 337-6741
California (Southern)--(949) 798-7701
Colorado--(303) 236-3044
Connecticut--(781) 596-7730
Delaware--(215) 597-9064
District of Columbia--(410) 962-3593
Florida (Northern)--(407) 475-4717
Florida (Southern)--(305) 526-2800, ext. 916
Georgia--(404) 253-1169
Hawaii--(510) 337-6741
Idaho--(425) 483-4949
Illinois--(312) 353-7840
Indiana--(313) 393-8118
Iowa--(913) 752-2440
Kansas--(913) 752-2440
Kentucky--(513) 679-2700, ext. 124
Louisiana--(504) 253-4542
Maine--(781) 596-7700
Maryland--(410) 779-5713
Massachusetts--(781) 596-7700
Michigan--(313) 393-8118
Minnesota--(612) 334-4100, ext. 184
Mississippi--(504) 240-4511
Missouri--(913) 752-2440
Montana--(425) 483-4949
Nebraska--(913) 752-2440
Nevada--(510) 337-6741
New Hampshire--(781) 596-7700
New Jersey--(973) 526-6017
New Mexico--(303) 236-3044
New York (Northern)--(716) 551-4461, ext. 3171
New York (Southern)--(718) 340-7000, ext. 5588
North Carolina--(404) 253-1169
North Dakota--(612) 334-4100, ext. 184
Ohio--(513) 679-2700, ext. 124
Oklahoma--(214) 655-5310, ext. 521
Oregon--(425) 483-4949
Pennsylvania--(215) 597-9064
Rhode Island--(781) 596-7700
South Carolina--(404) 253-1169
South Dakota--(612) 334-4100, ext. 184
Tennessee--(615) 781-5380, ext. 123
Texas--(214) 253-5200 ext. 5233
Utah--(303) 236-3044
Vermont--(781) 596-7700
Virginia--(410) 962-3593
Washington--(425) 483-4949
West Virginia--(410) 962-3593
Wisconsin--(612) 334-4100, ext. 184
Wyoming--(303) 236-3044



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