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Food Defense is the effort to protect food from acts of intentional adulteration or tampering.

FDA has a leading role in a number of Food Defense Initiatives to protect food from acts of intentional adulteration or tampering and to assist facilities to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from acts of intentional adulteration of the food supply.  In addition, FDA has developed several Food Defense Tools, Food Defense trainings, and educational resources to further assist in these efforts.

Food Defense Guidance & Regulations

FDA issued the final rule on Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration (IA Rule) with requirements for covered facilities to prepare and implement food defense plans. 

FDA has issued draft guidance related to the IA Rule Requirements

Additional Guidance and Regulatory Information

Food Defense Outreach and Support

The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA), Intentional Adulteration Subcommittee - A broad-based public-private alliance of key industry, academia and government stakeholders to assist the food industry in complying with the IA rule and to have a more in-depth understanding of those requirements.

Conversations with Food Defense Experts - A Conversation with FDA’s Ryan Newkirk and Jon Woody on the IA rule and what the FDA is doing to support industry compliance.

FDA’s Commissioner BLOG – FDA and the food industry are committed to the overarching goal of protecting consumers from these and other risks. We’re Committed to Guarding Against the Intentional Adulteration of Food.

Routine Inspections to begin - Inspections of Small Businesses under the FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule.

Public Meeting – FDA held public meeting to discuss the draft guidance issued to support compliance and implementation of FSMA Intentional Adulteration rule.

Related Resources/Information from FDA

Related Resources/Information from Other Federal Government Agencies

Additional Contact Information for Food Facilities

Contact Us

For general food defense information, please email fooddefense@fda.hhs.gov.



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