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Unit 1 The Science of Food
The previous discussion focused on food safety risks accidentally
introduced from another country. However, the possibility of inten-
tional tampering with a nation’s food supply exists. Such an attack,
depending on its severity, could cause serious illness, death, and more.
Hunger, malnutrition, economic calamity, and widespread panic
could result.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for
the overall security of the nation and the American people. The DHS
works with the USDA to develop measures for preventing accidental
and intentional contamination on the estimated 2.1 million U.S. farms.
To address possible post-harvest threats to the U.S. food system,
the DHS launched the National Center for Food Protection and
Defense (NCFPD) in 2004. The mission of this action-oriented research
consortium is to identify ways to address potential threats in the
food supply chain. That chain involves 30,000 food processing sites,
19,000 food packers, over a million retail stores and outlets, and their
transportation facilities. Some new measures needed to identify and
respond quickly to an early phase of a hostile act include
• improving supply chain security and preparedness
• detecting contaminations and their causes almost instantly and
accurately
• developing tools to recover from and resume safe operations
after an intentional incident
Food protection is an umbrella term meaning both food safety
and food defense. Food defense is the protection of food products
from intentional adulteration by biological, chemical, physical, or
radioactive agents. Food terrorism is the deliberate contamination of
food and/or water supplies.
Note that food security means something completely different.
It means access to nutritionally adequate and safe food. For example,
victims of famine face food insecurity.
Why Study Food Science?
Many food scientists focus on organic chemistry, microbiology,
engineering, or nutrition. Others have received special training in
one area of food production, such as poultry, animal, or dairy science.
However, interest in one of these fi elds is not the only reason you
might study food science.
Over half of all jobs in the world are linked to food in some way.
Workers from the farm to the table who must know how to handle
food properly include: farmers, shippers, processors, food retailers,
cooks, and wait staff. There are jobs in every area and at every level
of training and income that need some understanding of food.