21 CFR § 121.126 - Food defense plan.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t21/s121.126"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "21 CFR § 121.126 - Food defense plan."
title_number: 21
title_name: "Food and Drugs"
section_number: "121.126"
section_name: "Food defense plan."
chapter_name: "FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION"
part_number: "121"
part_name: "MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO PROTECT FOOD AGAINST INTENTIONAL ADULTERATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "21 U.S.C. 331, 342, 350g, 350(i), 371, 374."
regulatory_source: "81 FR 34219, May 27, 2016, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "121"
---


# 121.126 Food defense plan.

(a) *Requirement for a food defense plan.* You must prepare, or have prepared, and implement a written food defense plan.

(b) *Contents of a food defense plan.* The written food defense plan must include:

(1) The written vulnerability assessment, including required explanations, to identify significant vulnerabilities and actionable process steps as required by § 121.130(c);

(2) The written mitigation strategies, including required explanations, as required by § 121.135(b);

(3) The written procedures for the food defense monitoring of the implementation of the mitigation strategies as required by § 121.140(a);

(4) The written procedures for food defense corrective actions as required by § 121.145(a)(1); and

(5) The written procedures for food defense verification as required by § 121.150(b).

(c) *Records.* The food defense plan required by this section is a record that is subject to the requirements of subpart D of this part.