Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
“At any given time,
about 60% of the world’s population is awake.
Some of them
are up to no good.”
MG John F. Sattler, USMC
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Foodborne Terrorism:
Issues, Assessments and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration and the National Counterterrorism Center Debbie Browning
Senior Science and Intelligence Analyst
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Objectives
• Biological warfare v/s biological terrorism, Food and Ag terrorism goals, trends in terrorism, Threats & Vulnerabilities, terrorist manuals and future threats • Thoughts on Agents, Deterrence, Investigations, Prevention • Food and agriculture model for risk assessment
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Biological Warfare vs. Bioterrorism: A Matter of Intent
Biological warfare attack: Intent is to conquer through incapacitation or lethality Little concern about deniability Likely to involve a delivery device Dose-response optimized Self-protection is considered
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Biological Warfare vs. Bioterrorism: A Matter of Intent
Terrorist attacks are about: Attention to a cause Fear and Disruption Economic impact Social and political pressures to change our will and society
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Weapons Development Cycle
State Programs
-Step-wise technical development. -Concerted effort by country of interest.
-Typically overseen by military or
Employment and Training
Employment
Weapon Storage
intel-service entities. -Not necessarily large scale.
Weapon Filling
Release Vehicle
Agent Storage
Agent Production Agent R&D
Terrorism
-Could involve very little technical expertise. -Bench scale lab work (culturing agent).
Agent Acquisition
January 12, 2005
-Small attack can have LARGE impact.
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Total International Attacks, 2002
Total Facilities Struck
Business - 111 52% Other - 75 34% Military - 1 0% Diplomatic - 14 6% Government 17 8%
Assault 1% Other - 1 1%
Type of Event
Hijacking -1 1%
Barricade hostage -2 1%
Firebombing - 2 1%
Kidnapping -5 3%
Armed Attack 50 24% Bombing - 137 68%
Released by U.S. Department of State, May 2003. January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Food and Agro-terrorism & Terrorists Goals
• • Objectives: International – Disrupt food supply – Denial of foreign sales Domestic – Draw worldwide attention to political or religious agenda, e.g., with human suffering &/or death….large number of dead animals also has major negative affect upon public –such as Foot and Mouth Disease. – Surprise, broad human impact, expose victim’s vulnerability, long term effects – Cause economic disruption or devastation – Increase cost of security – Loss of productivity – Loss of confidence – Loss of trade and commerce
•
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Food and Agriculture
• WHO has warned that “the malicious contamination of food for terrorist purposes is a real and current threat.” • The CDC’s infectious disease experts similarly have concluded that sabotage of food and water is the easiest means of biological or chemical attack largely because such attacks (albeit on a small scale) have been successful in the past. • The relative centralization of food production in the US and the global distribution of food products give food a “unique susceptibility” • In the US, the CDC estimates that 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths occur annually due to food that has been inadvertently contaminated by pathogens. (roughly translated into 1 in 4 Americans) January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Components of a Biosecurity Plan
Threat analysis Vulnerability assessments Prevention Deterrence Investigations/Enforcement
Domestic preparedness Systems analysis and integration
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
The Assessment Process
Threat = Intent + Capabilities Threat + Vulnerability = Risk
Within the USG this function is driven by: • Intelligence Community • Law Enforcement • Federal Regulatory Agencies (HHS, APHIS, FDA, FSIS)
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Terrorist Organizations
Foreign Terrorist Organizations
Released by the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State, May 2003.
Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) Abu Sayyaf Group Aqsa Martyrs Brigade Armed Islamic Group (GIA) Asbat al-Ansar Aum Shinrikyo Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) Gama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group) HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement) Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM) Hizballah (Party of God) Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) (Army of Mohammed) Jemaah Islamiya organization (JI) al-Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad) Kahane Chai (Kach) Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) a.k.a. Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK)
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) a.k.a. Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK) Lashkar i Jhangvi Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK) National Liberation Army (ELN) Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)
al-Qa’ida
Real IRA Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Revolutionary Nuclei (formerly ELA) Revolutionary Organization 17 November Revolutionary People’s Liberation Army/Front (DHKP/C) Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL) Ayman Al-Zawahiri United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Terrorist Perspective of US Targets
• Assessment Challenges
•
•
•
Complexity and enormity of US presents numerous terrorist targets Terrorists take advantage of freedom of movement, availability of information Overlapping responsibilities of several government agencies at the federal, state, and local level could be exploited
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Disrupted, But Still a Threat
• It is believed that al-Qa’ida – Retains a command structure – Has access to some funds – May have longstanding plans and operatives in the US
• The biotech revolution has equipped underdeveloped nations, including the bad actors, with new skill sets coupled with al-Qa’ida’s Traditional ability to hunker down and wait… up to 10 years if necessary
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Vulnerability Assessments
• Even prior to 9-11 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had developed a strategic plan on biological and chemical terrorism. The CDC plan identified and ranked several foodborne pathogens as critical agents for possible terrorist attacks. • High-priority (Category A): anthrax, botulinum toxin -deadly pathogens + could contaminate food • Medium-priority (Category B): Salmonella spp., Shigella dysentariae, E.coli 0157:H7, ricin -moderately easy to disseminate and cause moderate
morbidity and low mortality
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Vulnerability Assessments
• In 2000 FDA initiated a study to determine which were the most vulnerable food commodities and likely agents of contamination (taken from the CDC and intelligence information) • More important than actual results is the list of key vulnerabilities identified that help the food sector businesses identify whether their commodities or processes are at a higher risk for intentional contaminations.
– For example: bulk production, medium, short shelf life, high turnover rate
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Typical Wet Mixing-Spray Drying Process Protein
Minerals Oils Corn Syrup Wet Mixing Heat Sensitive Nutrients Pasteurization
170 – 260°F
Cooling
Preheater
160 – 200°F
Holding Tank
Homogenizer
Approx. 170 °F
Sifter Fluidized Bed
January 12, 2005
Can Filling Line Totes or Bags
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Threat Assessments
• Terrorist Manuals refer to conventional weapons and conventional guerilla tactics. • Portions of the training manuals come from old US Army Training Manuals and Anarchist Cookbook type manuals. • Sections on doctrine such as battle organization, recon, infiltration and spying • Sections on making and using toxins/poisons
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Delivery Methods
• Gas release and aerosol releases via airplanes, submarines, bombs, artillery and missiles • HCN missiles and central burster missiles • Poisoned arrows • Poisoned bullets • Poisoned hand grenades • Poisoned letters • Food delivery: food, coffee, water, creams, juice
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Thoughts on Agents of Choice
Disease / Pathogen 1. Anthrax (B. anthracis) Explanation Weapon of choice; much baseline information
1. Foot and mouth disease (FMDV)
1. BSE (infective prion)
Public awareness; agent of mass disruption
Trade implications; public hysteria
1. Tularemia (F. tularensis)
1. Bot Tox (C. botulinum)
Easily obtained, very environmentally hardy
Crude but viable methods to produce this lethal toxin found in terrorist training manuals, which often suggest using it to poison food or water.
January 12, 2005
North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology, September 9-14, 2004
Prevention
• Intelligence
• Open sources
• Import safety • Agriculture and food supply process security • Domestic and foreign partners • Global surveillance • Vaccine stockpiles
• Border security • Counter-proliferation • Nonproliferation • Foreign disease eradication
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Warnings and Indicators
• Development of rapid detection Elisa assays for food matrixes • Rapid response options and crisis simulations developed. • Public education and awareness campaign • Widely publicized warning and alert system for private citizens
January 12, 2005
North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology, September 9-14, 2004
Deterrence
• Laws, regulatory authorities • Criminal penalties • Investigation,
attribution, prosecution, retribution
• Global surveillance • Vaccine stockpiles
• Domestic and foreign partners • Pathogen security
• International treaties BWC
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Measures to Deter an Attack
• Review of employees at selected food processing centers, large volume grocery stores and restaurants • Random checks at the same • Awarding food distribution centers with effective defense plans and effective defense plans and sanctioning those who fall short • Tougher sentences for those convicted of attempted food poisoning
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
U.S. Intelligence Community Private Industry Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
OCI
Foreign Law Enforcement Agencies
U.S. Attorney’s
FDA
Federal/State Health Authority
January 12, 2005
State/Local Law Enforcement Agencies
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
CFSAN
CBER
CDER
OCI
CVM Office of Chief Counsel
FDA
Office of the Commissioner
CDRH
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
JOINT INVESTIGATIONS
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Investigations
January 12, 2005
Foodgard Training Program, January 12, 2005
Summary: Back to the Basics
•
Plan ahead, plan smart and be prepared to move quickly and decisively.
Communication, data integration and timely delivery of data analysis to decision-makers is crucial.
•
January 12, 2005