Food Safety

Last Updated: April 07, 2025
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Scientist examining food samples

​Whether at home or deployed, food safety is important to everyone's health. Food Safety includes practices such as -

  • Prevention of cross contamination during food preparation
  • Proper clean up and disinfection techniques
  • Proper cooking temperatures
  • Proper food storage
  • Proper hand washing


Installation-level public health and preventive medicine personnel perform sanitation inspections of all food facilities contracted through the Exchange Services such as - 

  • ​Army and Air Forces Exchange Service (AAFES) and Navy Exchange (NEX)
  • Dining Facilities (DFACs)
  • Morale, Welfare, and Recreational (MWR) establishments
Food retail facilities such as commissaries, Express stores, and similar facilities are inspected by the Army Veterinary Services and Air Force veterinary and public health personnel. 

​​Food Protection

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​Food protection is an overarching term that includes both food safety and food defense. The Army Veterinary Service food protection missions ensure all service members, family members, and Department of Defense (DOD) civilians have access to unadulterated food, while concurrently protecting the financial interest of the Government. 

The Food Protection Program (FPP) includes, but is not limited to -

  • Destination monitoring program
  • Food and Water Risk Assessments (FWRA)
  • Food defense
  • Food protection assessments for special events
  • Food protection audits of commercial food establishments
  • Installation support
  • Quality assurance inspections of food products purchased through appropriated and non-appropriated fund (NAF) contract instruments
  • Receipt and surveillance inspections of subsistence
  • Sanitation inspections of military food facilities
  • Subsistence recalls
  • Targeted approved source verification

For more information, visit Army Veterinary Services Directorate (CAC-enabled) External Link.
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