And packaging is part of the safeguard for America's prepared foods
With bioterrorism a real possibility, food industry authorities are quietly discussing what steps can be taken to increase the security of packaged foods. So daunting is the challenge, however, that one expert facetiously suggests "shrink-wrapping delivery trucks" as a distribution safeguard.
The shrink-wrap suggestion was prompted by an October incident in which the message, "Anthrax contamination," was spray-painted on a boxcar loaded with flour. The message was a hoax, but it added fuel to the food-security debate. Pre-harvest and in-plant contamination dominate the discussion. As the final link in the security chain, packaging also must be considered.