Food Terrorism Research Articles

Screening biotoxin aptamer and their application of optical aptasensor in food stuff: a review.

Biotoxins are ranges of toxic substances produced by animals, plants, and microorganisms, which could contaminate foods during their production, processing, transportation, or storage, thus leading to foodborne illness, even food terrorism. Therefore, proposing simple, rapid, and effective detection methods for ensuring food free from biotoxin contamination shows a highly realistic demand. Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides obtained from the systematic evolution of ligands by performing exponential enrichment (SELEX). They can specifically bind to wide ranges of targets with high affinity; thus, they have become important recognizing units in safety monitoring in food control and anti-terrorism. In this paper, we reviewed the technical points and difficulties of typical aptamer screening processes for biotoxins. For promoting the understanding of food control in the food supply chain, the latest progresses in rapid optical detection of biotoxins based on aptamers were summarized. In the end, we outlined some challenges and prospects in this field. We hope this paper could stimulate widespread interest in developing advanced sensing systems for ensuring food safety.

FOOD AS A WEAPON IN THE FACE OF RUSSIA'S AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE

Background. Food is a basic value for every human being and the food sector is the backbone of any economy. From the perspective of the individual consumer and society, food and proper nutrition affect body immunity, life expectancy or ability to live on a daily basis. They are also values that constitute a sense of broader physical and psychological security and human dignity. Unfortunately, food has also long been used as a weapon against enemies, resulting in a threat to food safety and food security. This is par ticularly evident in the war that continues in Ukraine. Given the fact that Russia has been considered a terrorist state, it is interesting to look at the phenomenon of its terrorist activities against food and the food chain. The purpose of this article is to present this phenomenon with particular attention to the situation in Ukraine. The purpose stems from the research hypothesis, which is as follows: Typical acts of food terror ism occur in Ukraine. The study used a critical analysis of the literature, a critical analysis of reports pub lished in the media (the press, Internet portals), an analysis of databases maintained by recognized agen cies dealing with terrorism, as well as the method of synthesis and logical inference. Results and conclusions. The article describes the phenomenon of food terrorism and its manifesta tions during Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Various definitions of food terrorism were presented, its varieties were distinguished and selected examples of its occurrence were indicated. A proposal was also made to include hunger terrorism in the category of food terrorism, recalling the events of the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-1933.

АСПЕКТИ СТАНДАРТИЗАЦІЇ ТА ПРОТИДІЯ ХАРЧОВОМУ ТЕРОРИЗМУ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ

One of the important issues in the field of ensuring product safety at food industry enterprises is the prevention of bioterrorism. The emergence of bioterrorism is associated with the rapid development of genetic engineering and the emergence of the latest biotechnologies in the world, which contributes to a quick and easily accessible way of neutralizing the enemy. In connection with the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, the occupation and the holding of illegal referendums, and the use of all types and types of terrorism, market operators whose location is tangential to the occupied territories should strongly pay attention to food terrorism and carry out a biorisk assessment depending from the field of production

CARVER+Shock and Business Process Management in Improving Food Safety of Primary Production

Context: Food safety is essential for every human. It determines public health, nutrition, elimination of hunger, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture. It is crucial for sustainable production, consumption, and international food trade. Ensuring food safety is the fundamental challenge of the 21st century. Food safety is often related to food defense and includes protection against intentional contamination with various chemical, biological, or other harmful substances. By introducing food protection tools and methods, any company reduces risk and creates an opportunity to generate more significant and reliable profits and improved production for society. One such method could be the CARVER+Shock. The method is an offensive targeting prioritization tool that has been adapted for use in the food sector. Objective: The article aims to present the experience of the first implementation of CARVER+Shock in a Polish primary production company, to improve the approach to food safety and food defense. Methods: The article is a case study. Descriptive analysis was performed to analyze legal acts and safety management standards in food defense. The authors used the CARVER+Shock expert method to estimate companies’ vulnerability. CARVER is an acronym for Criticality, Accessibility, Recoverability, Vulnerability, Effect, Recognizability. The visualization and risk analysis were made using business process management and business process modeling (VACD diagram) Results and conclusions: Primary production enterprise dealing with the cultivation and confectioning of the pre-treatment and sale of peeled onions for further processing purposes was examined. Five essential stages of the production process were assessed, and risks were assigned. Recognizability and criticality turned out to be the most crucial attribute of CARVER+Shock. Overall, the study showed that the company was not fully prepared for the threat posed by food terrorism. The organization did not have any procedures describing how to proceed during deliberate attacks. In addition, workers had low awareness of food defense throughout the food chain. Based on these conclusions, several detailed improvement actions were formulated. The results obtained from the pioneering application of the CARVER+Shock method for a Polish primary production company may constitute a benchmark for other sectors of the food industry, both domestically and abroad. Significance: The article describes the results of the first Polish attempts to use CARVER+Shock and business process management to improve the approach to food safety in a primary production enterprise.

ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ І ПИТАННЯ ПРОДОВОЛЬЧОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ

In the context of the Russіa’s war agaіnst Ukraіne, the issue of food security has become quite acute not only for Ukraine, but for the whole world. The Russian Federation is a terrorist state carrying out food terrorism with the aim of destroying the world (global) food security system and thus influencing the entire free world. The actions and war crimes of the Russian Federation during the war in Ukraine negatively affected the world economy, global food security, as well as the budgets of individual countries that were largely dependent on Ukrainian export of agricultural products. Considering the above, the purpose of the article is to study trends and issues (some aspects) of food security of Ukraine in the war conditions. Based on an analytical review and analysis, it was noted that more than 400 million people in the world depend on grain supplies from Ukraine, and the total amount of losses to the Ukrainian agricultural industry as a result of the Russіa’s war agaіnst Ukraіne, as of June 14, 2022, is already amounted to $4.29 billion. It is also stated that it is impossible even in the next 3-5 years to find alternative suppliers in the world (among the countries) and replace such volumes of agricultural products from Ukraine. In the context of this, is presented a plan of measures to ensure food security in the conditions of martial law, approved by the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 327-p dated April 29, 2022. It has been established that in order to protect and support Ukrainian agricultural production and ensure the sustainability of Ukraine's food security in a war (martial law), as well as to minimize any manifestations of the global food crisis, it is necessary to use all the tools and opportunities for Ukraine to influence global food policy, based on experience and real achievements of the leading positions in the global agricultural economy received by Ukraine, as well as to intensify and strengthen cooperation with partner countries, international and intergovernmental organizations, in particular with the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), on the transformation of food systems. The conclusion formulated that the Russian Federation is both a terrorist state and a state sponsor of terrorism.

Halal Food Crime in Malaysia: An Analysis On Illegal Meat Cartel Issues

Malaysia is a known for its high level of sensitivity in the halal and haram aspects. Its status as an international halal hub reflects the sustainable halal ecosystem in the country, supported by the sensitivities of the government, industry and consumers. Unfortunately, there are irresponsible parties who make halal food a medium of crime. Thus, various food crime issues rise such as food crime, food fraud, food adulteration, food terrorism and cases that cover it. Accordingly, the objective of this article is to target the analysis of food crime issues in Malaysia, focusing on the issue of illegal meat cartels. In addition, various causative factors have been put forward, as well as modern technological alternatives as practical solutions. Data were analysed in a qualitative approach, in which data were collected through document analysis from various primary and secondary sources. As a result, the issue of illegal cartel meat has betrayed all consumers in Malaysia. The government needs to empower halal control in the country, including making practical use of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era technology.

The potential of food terrorism towards halal ecosystem

The approaching of megatrend 2050, challenges have emerged in the food sector and it is predicted that main issues would be the shortage of food supply and food contamination. In parallel to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), that by 2050, with the increasing human population, the food supply would be affected as the sources are inadequate to cater. This crisis requires a comprehensive solution – necessitate a better food security policy, food safety and food defence. In other words, a focused policy that deals with safe food ecosystem must be implemented and strengthen by relevant authorities. In the Malaysian context, the National Safety Policy (2017) outlined the security assurance for the nation’s food supply under Strategy 17. However, the focus of the policy is only on the preparedness of rice commodity that needs to be adequate, whereas, newer threats is making their way beyond that scope. Therefore, this review will discuss the potential of food terrorism, its concept and implication within the halal ecosystem. To achieve this objective, this study is qualitatively carried out by utilizing fully library research relating to food terrorism. The data is being analysed to conclude the findings. Based on the study, we found that food terrorism is indeed a real threat jeopardizing consumer safety, and moreover, causing negative implications towards the local, regional and global halal ecosystem. Therefore, proactive measures needed to be taken to ensure the security of food and this aligned with the objective of sharia to preserve human’s life by having adequate, nutritious, halal and safe food.

Антитеррористическая деятельность Департамента полиции МВД России в 1880-1890 гг. XIX века

The article reveals the activities of police officers in pre-revolutionary Russia, the ideological origins and motivation of food terrorism, government measures aimed at curbing and countering terrorism.

Poziom świadomości konsumentów w zakresie terroryzmu żywnościowego jako przykład współczesnego zagrożenia dla przemysłu rolno-spożywczego

Celem artykułu było zaprezentowanie świadomości konsumentów z zakresu terroryzmu żywnościowego jako nowego zagrożenia w przemyśle spożywczym. Terroryzm żywnościowy to nowe zjawisko, które w XXI wieku stanowi wyzwanie dla przemysłu spożywczego. Polega na celowym skażeniu żywności przy wykorzystaniu substancji biologicznych, chemicznych i fizycznych. Na każdym etapie produkcji żywności może dojść do intencjonalnego skażenia żywności. Do zrealizowania celu zastosowano badania ankietowe, które zostały przeprowadzone z wykorzystaniem portalu internetowego. W badaniach wzięło udział 120 respondentów z Wielkopolski. Na podstawie literatury przedmiotu oraz przeprowadzonych badań ankietowych stwierdzono, iż konsumenci nie są w pełni świadomi, że żywność może być celem ataku terrorystów. Według badanych osób, terroryzm żywnościowy ma charakter globalny i może wystąpić na każdym etapie łańcucha żywnościowego. Z racji, że terroryzm żywnościowy jest zjawiskiem nowym w gospodarce, metody wykorzystywane przez terrorystów oraz potencjalne skutki zagrożenia nie są do końca znane.

Food defence systems as an answer to food terrorism.

Terrorist attacks on critical infrastructures can cause problems to a national stability and functioning. Food and water supply chains are some of the most important infrastructures, and it is the country's (government's) obligation to provide sufficient quantities of food and water to its population. Intentional food contamination can, among other motives, originate from an act of terrorism (with political or ideological motives) with the aim of causing fear (terror) among people. Food defence systems can help assess vulnerabilities, determine mitigation strategies for terrorist attack, estimate risks, and prevent a terrorist attack. Risk assessment and prevention also include control over the production and distribution of potential chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) agents or their related materials. When a terrorist attack occurs, rapid and organised response is essential in terms of determining the type of agent used, managing the diseased, ensuring the functioning of the food and water supply, and the recovery of the infrastructure system under attack. Food defence planning as part of a food counterterrorism strategy should include considerations regarding the global food market and the fact that ingredients are supplied from all over the world (vendor certificates). Preventing terrorist attacks on sources of food and water is a far better option than crisis management once an attack had already been committed, but governments should have a response to any scenario.

Food Safety as a Key Factor in the Supply Chain

Abstract Food production system, due to the mass scale of its manufacturing, distribution, and consumption, is subject to rigorous protection and control. The analysis of food safety presented in the foregoing publication shows that legal and organizational regulations are not alone sufficient to ensure that the quality of products does not pose a health and environmental threat. The results of the study conducted with the participation of 15 subjects make it evident that the issue of food safety is complex and requires continual monitoring because of ever changing conditions. It is increasingly seen that food safety is a key factor in supply chains, becoming the overriding element of production systems. Production companies spend more and more money on control and modernization of the entire production-related system so that food safety is 100% guaranteed. In the last few years, it can be seen that audits in manufacturing companies that deal with the production and sale of food are largely focused on food safety, process monitoring systems and employee access controls to individual production zones. Not without significance is the fact that additional departments are created in manufacturing companies, whose main task is to control production processes in terms of food safety, both from the side of the safe use of raw materials, packaging and the interference of unauthorized persons. It is absolutely necessary to emphasize that the paper also shows some examples that can already be treated as the first symptoms of food terrorism, which is becoming a deadly tool for current and future food terrorists. The publication emphasizes that food safety in the market reality of that time may be of paramount importance in the supply chains, given the importance and consequences of possible mass contamination of food.

Food Safety Challenges in the Tourism Processes

Abstract The modern food industry is among the key partners of today’s global tourism. As part of the tourism processes, tourists buy and consume local food in the local catering facilities. Furthermore, tourists are usually willing to try out gastronomy specialties during their travels. Food safety is important for tourists although it is not always part of their conscious behavior in the destination. Food safety standards are regulated by international contracts based on the analysis of more half a century’s experiences. Within processes related to the changes in the external environment, there are emerging issues – although in different intensity - like chemical and microbiological contamination or food terrorism. Due to the immense number of participants in tourism, it is of key importance to raise awareness of threats like food decay, infections and other negative impacts, because food safety if a basic need in all tourism destinations. The amount of waste food is increasing dramatically at a global scale. The study will introduce the findings of a food safety research in Hungary, providing useful knowledge to all stakeholders of the tourism industry.

Food Terrorism

Food Terrorism

Food defense KPI in the business processes of the food supply chain

Given that globalization is constantly spreading, supply chains are becoming more complex and vulnerable. Managing the security of supply chains is becoming a regular part of business management practices. Threats to supply chains include theft, terrorism, and patent violations. Food and water supply sources are an attractive target for terrorist attacks, which makes Food Defense for the protection of food supply chains a huge priority. Although a business process approach is widely adopted in the Food Supply Chain (FSC) context it is not very well developed in the literature about Food Defense. The development of alternatives to build a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to measure Food Defense in business processes has not been part of the studies that follow this approach. This article proposes a procedure to build a Food Defense KPI to establish how efficient business processes are in preventing food terrorism. The practical validation of the proposed procedure was done in a food company in El Bajio, Mexico. The results support the possibility of the successful application of the Food Defense KPI.

Vulnerability, risk and agroterrorism: an examination of international strategy and its relevance for the Republic of Korea

This article explores the under-researched subject of agroterrorism, and how this is being addressed in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). It first outlines the differences between bioterrorism, food terrorism and agroterrorism and why it is becoming increasingly important to focus on risks to farming and the food chain. The article then explores a range of international models of organisational structures and processes designed to counter agroterrorism in the USA, Australia and the UK, based on an analysis of all available open-source materials at the time of writing. This provides a critical picture of the understanding of risk, security and preparedness in those three countries against which the South Korean model can be compared. We found that, compared to the mature arrangements in place in the USA and Australia, both the UK and the Republic of Korea have relatively immature strategies to protect farmers, food production and rural communities, focussing only on maintaining alternative safe food sources for consumers. These relatively weak policies essentially ignore the potentially significant social and economic impact of agroterrorism. We conclude by proposing further research, including fieldwork with local communities in the agricultural sector, including first responders, within South Korea. Overall, these findings may help Korean policy makers to consider their current approach within an international perspective and encourage them to consider both national resilience and local interests.

Simulating Foodborne Pathogens in Poultry Production and Processing to Defend Against Intentional Contamination

There is a lack of data in recent history of food terrorism attacks, and as such, it is difficult to predict its impact. The food supply industry is one of the most vulnerable industries for terrorist threats while the poultry industry is one of the largest food industries in the United States. A small food terrorism attack against a single poultry processing center has the potential to affect a much larger human population than its immediate consumers. In this work, the spread of foodborne pathogens is simulated in a poultry production and processing system to defend against intentional contamination. An agent-based simulated environment that represents the farm, processing plant, homes, and restaurants is developed, which contains both poultry and human agents that move through the system and possibly infect each other. The simulation is run by varying several parameters that include probability of infection if exposed for both poultry and humans. The simulation predicts the number of infected poultry and humans over time.

A MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING INTENTIONAL FOOD CONTAMINATION BASED ON RISK ANALYSIS

In today’s globalized world the number of risks in supply chains are increasing and the threats are becoming more complex. All the risks and threats can have a severely negative impact on markets. Some of these threats are terrorism, piracy and theft. Within the food industry, Food Terrorism has gained relevance due to the extreme consequences it may have on both public health and the market. Food Terrorism refers to the intentional contamination of food in any link of the supply chain, which covers everything from production to consumption. The Food Defense refers to the analysis, control and improvement of prevention mechanisms of those attacks; that is, the Food Defense involves a Risks Management. In general terms, this paper focuses on a proposal formulation based on a risk analysis that allows establishing a management system for preventing intentional food contamination and the improvement of the security of the supply chain. Given the recent events in Paris, on November 13, 2015, consideration has also been given to the present situation and the importance of the issue of preventing terrorism.This initial study covers only the theoretical methodological proposal and focusses only on the companies of the alimentary sector of Guanajuato State in Mexico. However, it may extend into a research plan security of food supply chain.

A Review of Response Systems to Food Terrorism in the US: Implications for South Korea

이 연구에서는 식품 안전의 위기 상황에 대비하여 신속한 대응체계를 마련하기 위해서, 우리나라식품테러의 대응체계 실태를 살펴보고, 이를 미국의 식품테러 대응체계와 비교 연구하였다. 이를통하여 다음과 같이 우리나라 식품테러의 시사점을 도출하고자 하였다. 첫째, 식품테러는 대테러법이 부재하고, 국가대테러 활동지침에서도 식품테러에 대한 언급이 없다. 반면에 미국은 식품테러에대한 다양한 규정들이 존재한다. 둘째, 식품테러의 경우는 현대 위기의 속성상 복합재난의 성격이강하며, 2차 피해의 확산이 더 많은 피해를 불러 올 수 있다는 점에서 주무기관과 유관기관 간 역할의 유연한 변화를 요구한다. 그러나 우리나라의 경우에는 이를 제대로 반영하지 못하고 있다. 결론적으로 우리나라의 경우 식품의약처의 통일된 위기대응 체계 하에 각 사고 유형에 따른 대응방침을마련하는 시스템의 보완이 필요하며, 이를 통하여 새로운 사고유형으로서의 식품 테러 위험에 대한선제적 대응이 요구된다.This study compares the current response system to food terrorism in South Korea with the United Statesin order to find implications for establishing a quick response system addressing food risk incidents in SouthKorea. There is no anti-terrorism act covering food terrorism or mention about food terrorism in the nationalguidelines for anti-terrorist actions in South Korea. The main and the related agencies in South Korea hasfailed to be flexible in their roles in response to food terrorism which has a strong nature of complex disasterand can cause even larger damages through the expansion of secondary damage. Therefore, South Koreais required to reform the unified crisis response system within the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in orderto make a proactive response to every type of food-related incident.

A benchmark system to optimize our defense against an attack on the US food supply using the Risk Reduction Effectiveness and Capabilities Assessment Program.

A predictive system was developed and tested in a series of exercises with the objective of evaluating the preparedness and effectiveness of the multiagency response to food terrorism attacks. A computerized simulation model, Risk Reduction Effectiveness and Capabilities Assessment Program (RRECAP), was developed to identify the key factors that influence the outcomes of an attack and quantify the relative reduction of such outcomes caused by each factor. The model was evaluated in a set of Tabletop and Full-Scale Exercises that simulate biological and chemical attacks on the food system. More than 300 participants representing more than 60 federal, state, local, and private sector agencies and organizations. The exercises showed that agencies could use RRECAP to identify and prioritize their advance preparation to mitigate such attacks with minimal expense. RRECAP also demonstrated the relative utility and limitations of the ability of medical resources to treat patients if responders do not recognize and mitigate the attack rapidly, and the exercise results showed that proper advance preparation would reduce these deficiencies. Using computer simulation prediction of the medical outcomes of food supply attacks to identify optimal remediation activities and quantify the benefits of various measures provides a significant tool to agencies in both the public and private sector as they seek to prepare for such an attack.

Dodgy dumplings and lethal liver: risk, food terrorism, and Sino–Japanese relations

The nature of food risk in Japan has undergone a qualitative change in recent years. This article synthesises insights from psychology, economics, and political science into an interdisciplinary risk approach to show how international relations impact consumer decisions in Japan by outlining how food risks are constructed and framed within existing narrative frameworks. To this end, the article employs two case studies: the gyōza incident in 2008, when poisoned dumplings imported from China caused ten people to fall ill, and contaminated beef incident in 2011, in which five people died and dozens more were hospitalised after consuming raw beef tainted due to industrial negligence. These cases are analysed in the context of Japan's low rate of food self-sufficiency, deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations and the ‘China threat theory’, and perceptions of food safety. The article shows how, despite suffering recent major domestic food contamination incidents and lethal domestic food terrorism, Japanese food is perceived as safe and healthy whereas imported food, and especially Chinese food, is perceived as dangerous and unhealthy. This is exemplified in the domestic response to the two cases: the gyōza incident led to a national outcry, mass hysteria, and calls for a ban on Chinese food imports. Conversely, the raw beef contamination incident – the deadliest case of food contamination in Japan since the 1990s – saw a far more mixed response, as industry, media, and consumers called for the government to allow individuals to take on self-responsibility to mediate their own risks regarding (domestically produced Japanese) food. The article concludes by pointing out that, while behavioural sciences can tell us important things about risk, the political and international context must also be considered.