What does a functional food defense plan help to prevent?

A functional food defense plan is specifically designed to counteract the risks of intentional product contamination. This includes potential threats from malicious acts, such as tampering or sabotage, which could compromise the safety and integrity of food products. The key aspect of such a plan is its proactive approach in identifying vulnerabilities in the food production process that could be exploited for harmful purposes.

While unintentional product contamination and product mislabeling are important concerns within food safety, they are typically addressed through different strategies focused on quality control, proper labeling practices, and employee training programs. These aspects are not the primary focus of a functional food defense plan, which is tailored to safeguard against deliberate acts that could jeopardize the food supply, consumer health, and overall trust in food products.