Science and technology based countermeasures to foodborne terrorismt: introduction.

Until recently food was considered an unlikely target for terrorism. But, terrorism events around the world now require a redoubled effort to protect the safety of the food supply. Concerned governments and industries need to evaluate and adapt countermeasures to reduce potential threats to this most fundamental need. To achieve this goal, research is needed to develop and deploy technologies that minimize the likelihood of attacks. The conference will focus on the technology-based efforts that can be employed to prevent, detect, and minimize health effects of terrorist attacks throughout the food chain, from production to consumption