Why doesn’t the report address bioterrorism?
Work on this Expert Report began long before domestic terrorism was at the forefront of America’s consciousness. IFT considered changing the report’s focus and decided to continue producing the original report, because microbiological food safety remains an important issue that needs to be specifically addressed.
Many aspects of this Expert Report also have significance for bioterrorism issues. The description of the various pathogens and illnesses they cause could aid in diagnosis of an outbreak of foodborne illness, whether accidental or intentional. Understanding pathogen characteristics and their interaction with the environment will help identify points in the food chain where pathogens could be intentionally introduced. Integrated surveillance for foodborne illness could help spot any intentional contamination quickly, and our understanding of the food system would enable officials to rapidly minimize the danger. Improvements in consumer food safety practices could dramatically reduce the effectiveness of introducing pathogens into the food supply.