FDA Logo U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Food Defense and Terrorism

 

October 2008

Employees FIRST
Video Transcript (English): Employees are the FIRST Line of Food Defense

This video is available in several formats (English or Spanish, Windows Media or Quicktime format, and text transcript)

Contextual Narration:
Scene opens with text on screen: Special report - breaking news - is our food supply safe? FDA

FRANCINE (Reporter sitting behind news desk):
Hello everyone, I'm Francine D. Alvarez here with a special report.

Contextual Narration:
A montage of food industry scenes appear on a screen behind the news reporter.

FRANCINE:
Since the events of September 11, 2001, and the anthrax incidents that followed, there is a growing concern about new kinds of terrorist attacks. A major concern is the threat of attacks on the United States food supply. Intelligence reports have found that a terrorist attack on the food supply could pose both severe public health and economic impacts and also damage the public's confidence in the food that we eat. Both food safety and food defense are focused on keeping the nation's food supply safe.

The difference between the two is that food safety is concerned with accidental contamination of food while food defense is concerned with intentional contamination or sabotage of food. Food defense awareness and preparedness starts on the front line.

Contextual Narration:
Men tend crops in a field.

FRANCINE:
Employees are the FIRST line of defense in preventing, detecting and responding to potential threats to the food supply. The FDA has created an initiative called Employees FIRST that explains the simple steps front-line food industry workers can take to help protect against intentional contamination of the food supply.

Contextual Narration:
F - I - R - S - T appear on the screen.

FRANCINE:
This FIRST initiative is designed to help front-line food industry workers remember the following:
F - Follow company food defense plan and procedures;
I - Inspect your work area and surrounding areas;
R - Recognize anything out of the ordinary;
S - Secure all ingredients, supplies and finished product;
and T - Tell management if you notice anything unusual or suspicious.

If the Employees FIRST initiative is implemented nationwide by conscientious front-line food industry workers, the nation's food supply can be protected from terrorist threats.

That's the news…I'm Francine D. Alvarez….(gets cut off)

Contextual Narration:
In a dark room, a cartoon man in a chair holds a laptop computer as he faces a large television screen.

VILLAIN: (a dark figure sitting on a chair, face concealed)
(Evil laughter) Does the FDA really think that people will actually go along with this food defense initiative? Most people don't believe that someone would be devious enough to actually think of a plan to poison the food supply, sell the antidote to the high bidder and take over the world in the process! (Evil laughter) No one would be that devious and calculating. No one, that is…….except me!

Contextual Narration:
On the screen, lightning flashes in front of a spinning globe - WORLD DOMINATION.

VILLAIN:
(Evil laughter) Food defense plans or not, no one will be ready to stop my master plan. After all, employees rarely pay attention during orientation. They often don't read their handbooks. And they probably won't follow any plan their bosses give them to protect their food supply. Front-line workers simply don't realize how important they are in keeping the food supply safe. When the first line of defense is not paying attention - the world is mine for the taking! (Evil laughter) Speaking of plans, let's see how my agents are making out with mine. (Evil laughter).

Contextual Narration:
The man watches as real men don white breathing masks on the screen. On a blue background, the word FIRST, an animated Number One in a cap, drops onto the letters and knocks them over.

MUSIC: Triumphant musical score

ACE: (an animated Number One)
Hey everybody my name is Ace! I'm the coolest "One" you'll ever meet. I'm here to show you how important you are in protecting the food supply. Thanks to the FDA's FIRST initiative and your dedication, the food industry is prepared for a threat like this. What is FIRST? I could tell you, but it might work better if I showed you. Here, take a look…

Contextual Narration:
He switches it on and yellow lines squiggle across the screen. He kicks the television and the word FIRST appears.

ACE:
F reminds us to follow our company's food defense plan and procedures. Each employee should have a good understanding of what their company's food defense plan and procedures are. You should ask your manager or supervisor if you have any questions about the plan. It is very important that you both read it and understand it so that you can put it into action if necessary. Always review employee bulletins and posted information about food defense so that you're up to date on any changes or new procedures. Having a plan is the first step in food defense. With a well-constructed plan, terrorist schemes and threats against our food supply get jammed up pretty quickly.

Contextual Narration:
In a dark room, the villain in a chair holds a laptop computer as he faces a large television screen.

VILLAIN:
What?! This can't be happening! If the food industry starts adopting and following food defense plans, I'll never be able to get to the food supply! Attention all agents! They're on to us! They've developed food defense plans and are aware of possible threats. We must step up our plan and begin to infiltrate the work place.

Contextual Narration:
The ACE character appears.

ACE:
With FIRST, not only should you follow the company's food defense plan and procedures, but you should also inspect your work area and surrounding areas. Make sure you visually inspect your work area before, during and after your shift. You should also inspect food materials for tampering and follow the appropriate procedures for reporting anything out of the ordinary and keep personal items away from food processing or storage areas.

Okay, now we know what the F and the I stand for, but what about the R? R reminds us that it's important to recognize anything out of the ordinary. But what kinds of things should you look for? You should identify any unauthorized access or changes in your equipment. Someone using your equipment or making changes to it without permission are things to look out for. Follow company procedures that limit access to the facility and controlled areas. You should never give a keycard or access code to anyone. If they don't have permission to access that area, it's for a reason. Always be aware of individuals who are not wearing appropriate clothing or who don't have proper identification. Anything out of the ordinary should be reported to a manager or supervisor immediately.

Contextual Narration:
In a dark room, the villain in a chair holds a laptop computer as he faces a large television screen.

VILLAIN:
Agent Zero, I've seen how many front line workers have been inspecting their work areas and have identified things that are unusual or suspicious. They are really putting this FIRST initiative into practice. No matter! We'll hit 'em where it hurts. Get the ingredients, supplies and food products contaminated immediately. I bet they're just lying around with easy access. Don't fail me again! We're running out of options now.

Contextual Narration:
A man in a mask empties a bottle into a barrel in a warehouse producing consumer food goods.

Contextual Narration:
The ACE character appears.

ACE:
There's also an "S" in the FIRST initiative. The S tells us to secure all ingredients, supplies and finished product. If things are properly secured, the wrong people will not be able to get to them. You should secure ingredients, supplies, and food during preparation during distribution and during storage. You should also store food products separate from poisonous and toxic chemicals like cleaning and sanitizing products making sure the ingredients, supplies, and food products are secure will make it that much tougher for terrorists to do anyone harm.

Contextual Narration:
In a dark room, the villain in a chair holds a laptop computer as he faces a large television screen.

VILLAIN:
Listen and listen very carefully! The front-line food industry workers have defeated every attempt we've made and now my master plan is ruined. Get out of there before you get caught. If they find out you're there and report it to management, we're all going down!

Contextual Narration:
The ACE character appears.

ACE:
The T in FIRST lets us know that we should tell management if we notice anything unusual or suspicious. We know that if there ever is a threat against our food supply, we'll be well prepared to stop it. We have followed our company's food defense plan and procedures, inspected our work area and surrounding areas, recognized anything out of the ordinary, secured all ingredients, supplies and finished product, and told management when we saw anything unusual or suspicious like unlocked or open doors or equipment or unusual behavior by employees, customers, contract workers, or other individuals, or if we suspected food or product tampering - every single time we perceived that there might be a threat, we TOLD MANAGEMENT.

We'll always follow company procedures for reporting a threat. With dedicated food industry employees implementing the FIRST initiative, no plot against the nation's food supply can succeed.

Contextual Narration:
Two police officers escort a handcuffed man, the man in the mask who was emptying a bottle into the barrel. The ACE character appears.

ACE:
Remember, F - follow company defense plan and procedures. I - Inspect your work area and surrounding areas.
R - Recognize anything out of the ordinary.
S - Secure all ingredients, supplies and finished product.
and T - Tell management if you see anything unusual or suspicious.

Food defense starts with a plan. And the ones who carry out that plan are the workers on the front line. That's you! I know you'll be prepared.

Contextual Narration:
Hooks lower the letters F, R, S and T around the Ace character, forming the word FIRST.

ACE:
This is Ace, the cool "One", signing off. Remember, you'll be cool, too, if you follow the Employees FIRST initiative!

Contextual Narration:
In a dark room, the villain in a chair holds a laptop computer as he faces a large television screen.

VILLAIN:
I may have been defeated this time, but this is far from over. There are many places in the food industry that do not have food defense plans and when I find them..and I will… the world will be mine…oh yes, it will be mine! (Evil laughter)

Contextual Narration:
Lightning flashes in front of a revolving globe - WORLD DOMINATION.

Contextual Narration:
Employees FIRST Knowledge Check Questions.

One. What does the F in FIRST stand for?
Two. If you have any questions about the plan, who should you ask?
Three. What does the I in FIRST stand for?
Four. When should you inspect your work area?
Five. What does the R in FIRST stand for?
Six. What kinds of things should you look out for in the workplace?
Seven. What does the S in FIRST stand for?
Eight. When should you secure your ingredients, supplies and food?
Nine. What does the T in FIRST stand for?
Ten. What kinds of things would be considered unusual or suspicious?

Copyright two thousand and eight. FDA. CDC. USDA.


Employees FIRST tool kit and ordering information