Checklist “Food defense”: a tool for vulnerability analysis in food establishments

Concepts on food defense comprise measures to protect food from deliberate contamination. Even though so far there are no specific regulations concerning food defense in Germany and the EU, many German food business operators have an obligation to establish a specific food defense plan due to certification or export requirements. However, the topic of food defense is often neglected in food management and control. Raising the awareness of the responsible persons is necessary. Easy-to-use resources and support for food businesses for introducing a food defense concept are hardly available. In this context, the currently developed “Food defense checklist” in German language offers a simple and practical tool. The checklist can be used to get an overview of the status of specific prevention measures, to obtain suggestions for a food defense plan and is freely available at https://food-defense.ua-bw.de .