1. INTRODUCTION

WHAT is “FOOD BIOSECURITY”?

“Food Biosecurity” is the protection of food from bioterrorism or any intentional use of biological and chemical agents for the purpose of causing harm.

HOW DOES “FOOD BIOSECURITY DIFFER FROM “FOOD SAFETY”?

“Food Biosecurity” focuses on ways to limit the opportunity for someone to intentionally contaminate food for the purpose of causing harm or death. “Food Safety” focuses on ways to limit naturally occurring food contaminates and those caused by cross-contamination and time/temperature abuse.

WHAT is OUR “FOOD BIOSECURITY MANAGEMENT PLAN”?

Our “Food Biosecurity Management Plan” is our District’s way to prepare for the threat of bioterrorism or a crisis emergency to our food service operation. This “Food Biosecurity Management Plan” contains policies and procedures to minimize the risk of intentional contamination of food and reduce the risk of illness or death in our school community.

Our plan includes strategies for preventing threats and incidents of product tampering and food contamination. It also contains step by step actions to implement if a biosecurity or crisis incident occurs. This manual has been developed as an emergency readiness plan to help protect the lives and health of the children and adults in our school environment.

This plan is in compliance with N.J. A.C. 2:36-1.13 and the USDA’s “Biosecurity Checklist for School Foodservice Programs”.