New York StateFood Defense Initiatives

Darby Greco, M.P.H., R.S.

New York State Department of Health Bureau of Community Environmental Health

and Food Protection

(518) 402-7600djg11@health.state.ny.us

Program Components Vulnerability Assessment Foodborne Illness and Complaint

Surveillance LHD Staff Training Operator Education Assessing Readiness Northeast Regional Food Security

Taskforce

Broad Approach Intrastate with LHDs, industry groups

– Key to success – Receive complaints, Conduct investigations

Interagency– NY DOH/Ag & Mkts Partnership– Food Safety and Security Task Force

Interstate– Northeast Region Food Security Taskforce

Federal and State Cooperation

Vulnerability Assessment Objectives

Assess current industry preparedness Identify security vulnerabilities Address vulnerabilities Train field staff Educate operators

Assessment Tool

DOH and Ag & Mkts jointly-developed risk assessment tool for the various food operation types– Farms– Food Processors– Retail Food Stores– Food Service Establishments– Food Transporters

Assessment Tool Operator survey

– Yes/ No format– Comments received from industry partners– Collect data on security of various facets of

food industry operations– Profile current state of food security within

food industry

Survey Component Areas

Facility Security Facility Employees Receiving Food/Chemical Storage Food Prep & Holding Food Service & Consumer Contact Operator Comments

DOH Survey Distribution 1600 surveys distributed by mail Anonymous participation 430 (27%) responses returned

– Establishments from 44 of 46 LHD areas

Ag & Mkts Survey Distribution

Three different surveys Field staff:

– Distributed survey during inspections– Assisting operators with completion– Collecting/returning completed surveys for

data entry Staff distributed approx. 2000 surveys

Analysis of Responses

Results Analyzed by:– All Responses Combined– Facility Type– # of Employees– Geographic Distribution– Review of Operator Comments

Self-Assessment Guide Based on Vulnerability Assessment Designed for Food Services

– Self-Assessment Checklist– Corresponding Guidance– Piloted during 2004 RNC– To be distributed to all

FSE operators Adapted to Retail Food Stores

– Other guidance to Farms, Food Processors

Surveillance

Excellent Foodborne Illness Surveillance Program– Surveillance since 1980– EHS-Net State

Statewide FSE Complaint Data– Review for Trends/Suspicious events

Staff Training Basic Environmental Health Course

– All LHD staff FDA Foodborne Illness Investigation

– 300 LHD staff CDC Botulism in Argentina

– 100 LHD staff

Assessing Readiness

NYA&M Tabletop Exercises– Food Security– Animal Health– Plant Agroterrorism– Milk Safety

State, Local, Federal Agency Participants

Operator Education Self-Assessment Brochure DOH Brochures

– Tampering Prevention– Food Safety for Volunteer Workers – Power Outage / Dry Ice Usage– Flood/Fire Recovery– Water Emergencies

A&M Posters– Emergency contacts– Farm Security

Northeast Regional Food Security Taskforce

“Putting the Pieces Together”

"For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply because it is so easy to do”

Their Job Is Easy

Tommy Thompson, Dec. 3, 2004

“We have to be right 100% of the time. The enemy only has to be right once.”

Our Job is Hard

George W. Bush, September 30, 2004

State Issues– Program priorities– Staffing– Funding– Geography– Strengths and Weaknesses

Food Security Issues– Regional/National/Global Problem– Open System– Perception of Risk– Focus on Prevention? Containment? Recovery?

Challenges

Common Goals

Preparedness– Vulnerability assessments– Awareness materials to LHDs & operators– Outreach to schools

Response – Testing readiness– Illness investigation training– Response Guidance to LHDs

Looking Forward Solve our problems - Share our success

Augment “normal” program activities– Food Security as an element of Food Safety

Maintain & Improve communication – Within Region– With Other States– With Federal Partners

Continue sharing ideas and tools Participation in national workgroups