Hami Alpas
Middle East Technical University, Turkey
Title: Perceptions from food safety to food defense in a developing world
Biography
Biography: Hami Alpas
Abstract
The global food system became extremely vulnerable in the 21st century. Food having, social, cultural and nourishment aspects is produced in bulk amounts and needs rapid production, sourcing and distribution at both national and international level that is beyond the limits of routine food safety measures. Traditional food safety practices lack the capability of recovering/preventing from intentional threats and securing our food for accessing to sufficient calories. The intentional contamination of food supply poses a real threat to society. It has the potential to disrupt food distribution, loss of consumer confidence in government and the food supply. It is still unconventional and occurs asymmetrically. The overlaps and differences between safety and defense have to be clarified through a total food protection, perspective by breakdown of food safety management systems and especially vulnerability assessment. Food security, safety, defense, protection and quality should all be linked within a food continuum by determining the counter measures to eliminate or at least minimize the vulnerabilities as well as enhancing the capability for surveillance, preparedness and response to pre-determined intentional contamination for greater awareness and prevention. Intentional adulteration, possible motivations, terrorism, industrial sabotage and economically motivated adulteration are all new concepts that will be detailed. Finally, possible food defense mitigation strategies and tools will be summarized through public-private partnership alternatives for preparedness and international outreach.
