Food Defense Mitigation Strategies Database

The Food Defense Mitigation Strategies Database (FDMSD) is a tool designed to help owners and operators of a food facility with identifying mitigation strategies to protect the food against intentional adulteration, and may assist them with meeting some requirements of the Mitigation Strategies to Prevent Food Against Intentional Adulteration regulation (21 CFR Part 121).

The FDMSD contains a collection of potential mitigation strategies that could be implemented to significantly minimize or prevent significant vulnerabilities at actionable process steps. The FDMSD is intended as a starting point for facilities to consider when identifying potential mitigation strategies. Facilities can customize and tailor strategies listed in the FDMSD to apply to their specific circumstances. Use of the FDMSD is voluntary. The FDMSD is not an exhaustive list of potential mitigation strategies or associated points, steps, or procedures; facilities have the flexibility to identify and implement mitigation strategies that are not contained in the FDMSD.

• How to use this Tool
• Full Disclaimer

It is the responsibility of the owner, operator or agent in charge to choose the strategy or combination of strategies that are appropriate for their facility. Although, in some instances, a single strategy may be sufficient to significantly minimize or prevent significant vulnerabilities, some strategies in the FDMSD may not be suitable alone and may need to be complemented with additional strategy(ies) to sufficiently reduce significant vulnerabilities at a point, step, or procedure.

How to use this tool

Data can be accessed using two different methods.

1. LOOKUP TOOL: Mitigation strategies can be found by searching for specific points, steps or procedures commonly used within facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food. First, select a category from the provided list. If applicable, select a subcategory from the drop down list. Once the category or subcategory is selected, a list of points, steps or procedures will be provided to choose from. Click on a point, step or procedure and the associated strategies will appear in a new tab below the Strategy List disclaimer. Multiple points, steps or procedures can be chosen for comparison viewing; each one will appear on its own tab. Click the tabs to switch from one strategy list to another. Click the “x” button to close a strategy tab. If there are too many tabs to fit on the screen, left and right arrows will appear. Hold the mouse over an arrow to scroll the tabs until the desired tab comes into view, then click the tab.
2. KEYWORD SEARCH ENGINE TOOL: Mitigation strategies can be searched by a specific term or keyword. Similar to any search engine on the Web, type in the desired keyword and select GO; a list of applicable points, steps or procedures will be returned. Click on a point, step or procedure to view the potential mitigation strategies applicable to that point, step or procedure.

Disclaimer for Food Defense Mitigation Strategies Database

FDA has taken all reasonable precautions in creating the Food Defense Mitigation Strategies Database. However, FDA is not responsible for errors, omissions or deficiencies regarding the tool and the accompanying documentation. The FDMSD is being made available “as is” and without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. FDA is not making a commitment in any way to regularly update the database.

The FDMSD is not an exhaustive list of potential mitigation strategies or associated points, steps, or procedures; facilities have the flexibility to identify and implement mitigation strategies that are not contained in the FDMSD. Although in some instances, a single strategy may be sufficient to significantly minimize or prevent significant vulnerabilities, some strategies in the FDMSD may not be suitable alone and may need to be complemented with additional strategy(ies) to sufficiently reduce significant vulnerabilities at an actionable process step. Responsibility for the interpretation and use of the FDMSD lies solely with the user.

Although the content of the FDMSD is consistent with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) existing regulations and guidance, use of the FDMSD does not constitute FDA approval of mitigation strategies or guarantee compliance with FDA’s requirements. Further, in no event shall FDA be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from the use, misuse, or inability to use the database.

Third parties' use of or acknowledgment of the database does not in any way represent that FDA endorses such third parties or expresses any opinion with respect to their statements.