Anxiety about bioterrorism attack using contaminated foods and drinks has increased in recent years. The attack is classified into two categories on the basis of differences in the targets, i. e., direct attack on human being and indirect attack on the economy. The characteristics of microorganisms and toxins which will be used for the attack are summarized and reviewed, together with medical products to minimize the effects of the biological weapons. Among more than 100 candidates for the weapons, Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming bacterium , should be most dangerous, because of the high toxicity and extreme stability. The bacterium had been already used for the bioterrorism attacks on postal clerks, journalists, and others in USA in 2001. Botulinum toxins, as well as enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, shigatoxins, and Francisella turarensis, are also important candidates for the attack on foods and drinks. Several difficulties in protection of the bioterrorism attack in Japan are briefly discussed in this paper.
