Food Defense Plan

1. FDA defines Food Defense as:

   “Food defense is the protection of food products from contamination or adulteration intended to cause public health harm or economic disruption.”

    

   At SnackCo, the risk of unintended contamination of the food is addressed in detail throughout our quality system as “Food Safety”. This Food Defense Plan will address intentional contamination and adulteration risk intended to cause public harm and economic disruption.  

    

   The Food Defense plan consists of

   • Risk Assessment (TACCP)

   • Security Plan

   • Food Defense Security Plan

   • Facility Security

   • IT systems and Cyber Security

   • Food Defense Training

   • Testing of system

   • Continuous improvement and corrective action

   
   
   

   Our approach is to  focus on three key areas:

    

   1. Limiting access to areas of higher risk. Access limitations include locks on all doors, access only to authorized personnel with company issued key cards or biometric scans, an alarm system for unauthorized access after hours, hairnets colors  based on employment and position,  clean zone restrictions, etc.

   2. Recording of activity in areas of higher risk. Activity recording is done through various quality verification checks that identify the individuals in an area, camera footage in the clean zone areas, reviews of camera footage, etc. 

   3. Ensuring employee commitment. Ensuring employee commitment involves following the life cycle of employment to vet employees for the positions of trust they will be given. It includes screening candidates with reference checks and background checks as applicable. In addition, monthly training reviews by management determine the level of understanding and capability of an employee in an area. Regular performance reviews with the employees and weekly reviews with operations and HR discuss any frustrations and complaints. Employees are trained on our supply chain security which addresses recognizing and reporting suspicious behavior by visitors or other employees. Employees are encouraged to utilize the concern report to communicate any issues to senior management in an anonymous reporting system. These are monitored and investigated. Finally, if an employee is terminated, their access will be immediately revoked by HR to the building and their company communications to prevent sabotage.