Buckeyes defend the food supply.

OHIO RETAILERS ARE GETTING SOME HELP TO MAKE THE BUCKEYE STATE'S FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ONE OF THE SAFEST IN THE NATION. THEY WILL ALL RECEIVE AN EASY-TO-USE CD-ROM VERSION OF THE NEW RETAIL FOOD DEFENSE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE.

THE RESULT OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH AND THE OHIO GROCERS ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS THE OHIO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, ERIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CUYAHOGA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HEINEN'S FINE FOODS, WHICH REPRESENTED THE ASSOCIATION'S LOSS PREVENTION COMMITTEE, THE GUIDE PROVIDES EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ON FOOD DEFENSE/SECURITY, AS WELL AS GENERAL DISASTER RESPONSE INFORMATION.

"THE MAJORITY OF FOOD RETAILERS HAVE PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO ENSURE PRODUCT SAFETY AND CONSUMER HEALTH," SAYS TONYA WOODRUFF, DIRECTOR OF THE OHIO FOOD INDUSTRY FOUNDATION, OGA'S PHILANTHROPIC ARM.

"WE COMBINED THE BEST METHODS FOR FOOD SECURITY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM EXPERTS TO CREATE A MODEL 'DEFENSE GUIDE' TO HELP RETAILERS GUARD THE FOOD SUPPLY FROM NUMEROUS POTENTIAL THREATS."

CENTRAL TO THE PLAN IS A SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST THAT ALLOWS RETAILERS TO DETERMINE ANY POTENTIAL VULNERABILITY OR WEAKNESS IN THEIR FOOD DEFENSE STRATEGY. THE PLAN ALSO INCLUDES A QUICK, OVERALL SECURITY ASSESSMENT FOR DAILY USE.

WOODRUFF SAYS THE GUIDE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS IN OHIO OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS BY LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AS THEY DO INSPECTIONS.