Nation's food supply vulnerable to terrorist attacks, GAO says. (Washington).

Food Institute Report, The, March, 2003

Congressional auditors say the nation's food supply is vulnerable to terrorist attacks, partly because the government cannot ensure the security of processing plants. The General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, issued the report on Mar. 18 as USDA told food companies, retailers and farmers to increase security because of the heightened security alert. FDA issued additional security guidelines to food companies Mar. 19. Among the recommendations: employee background checks, banning workers from bringing purses or other personal items into food-storage areas and training workers to recognize suspicious behavior or possible food tampering. FDA also increased inspections of certain food factories and of imported foods.

The congressional...

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