Which term describes preventative measures to reduce the risk of diseases caused by biological hazards (e.g., microorganisms, pests)?

• A. Biosecurity
• B. Food Terrorism
• C. Agroterrorism
• D. Food Tampering

Answer: (A)

The term describes preventative measures to reduce the risk of diseases caused by biological hazards by focusing on preventing introduction and spread of pathogens and pests. In veterinary and food safety settings, biosecurity encompasses actions like restricting access to animals and facilities, strict sanitation and cleaning, effective pest control, quarantining new stock, proper storage and handling of feed, controlling animal movements, routine surveillance, prompt reporting of unusual signs, and training staff in hygiene and incident response. These practices collectively lower the chance that microorganisms or pests enter a system or move between groups, thereby protecting animal health and the safety of the food supply.

The other options relate to security and harm in different ways but are not the general preventive framework for everyday disease risk. Food terrorism and agroterrorism refer to deliberate acts aimed at harming food systems, focusing on security threats rather than routine, preventive health measures. Food tampering describes the act of adulterating or contaminating food, which is a specific wrongdoing rather than the broad suite of practices used to prevent disease spread.