Which statement best describes Food Defense objectives?

• A. Prevent intentional contamination only
• B. Prevent accidental contamination only
• C. Include preventing intentional contamination, accidental contamination, and fraud
• D. Ignore contamination

Answer: (C)

Food defense aims to protect the food supply from all types of threats that could affect safety and integrity. The best statement recognizes that protecting against deliberate contamination is essential, but so is preventing accidents and fraud that can also compromise a product. By including intentional contamination, accidental contamination, and fraud, this option covers the full range of risks that could threaten a defense program—insider or external tampering, errors in processing or handling, and deceptive practices like mislabeling or diluting ingredients. Focusing on only one aspect misses other real-world threats, and ignoring contamination would be dangerously incorrect.