The Relationship of Biosecurity to Sanitation.

During the past decade, biosecurity has become a major concern of the food industry. Knowledge of the threat of bioterrorism in food processing and preparation is essential for the maintenance of a safe food supply. The food industry has focused on three areas that are referred to as the “3 Ps” of protection, which are personnel, product, and property. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided some beneficial guidelines for the processing, storage, and protection against bioterrorism and the FDA has implemented guidelines for enforcement of the Bioterrorism Act. Since pest management is an integral part of food security, the training of pest management personnel is a viable method to improve food safety through monitoring the premises for indications of bioterrorism. Biosecurity and pest management personnel should collaborate to create a set of common goals and training opportunities. The FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have a website for the food industry that includes an extensive amount of information about biosecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]