A few dozen food and beverage industry officials from an array of companies, such as Whole Foods, PepsiCo and ADM, attended the sixth annual Food Defense Strategy Exchange.

A supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link and, for all food manufacturers, preparing a food defense strategy is more about knowing your supply chain’s vulnerabilities than simply just practicing food safety measures.

If a disease outbreak occurs in today’s interconnected global economy, the stakes are higher than usual: Expect lost domestic and international sales, a damaged reputation, and even a hit to the U.S. economy from lost trade and employment.

Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, talked exclusively with Don Hsieh, director of commercial and industrial marketing for Tyco Integrated Security, Boca Raton, Fla., to learn about the difference between food safety and food defense.