Anticipating and Managing Food Fraud

Food fraud is a deliberate alteration in food for economic gain. But making a decision as to which adulterant to test for in a product can be overwhelming. As a result, when a focused analyte approach is used using historic events as the only guide, alternative adulterants may be missed.

Horizon scanning is a tool that can be used to identify vulnerabilities. Effective horizon scanning has the capacity to identify emerging risks across scientific, economic and investigative sources, with the aim of gathering data to identify which ingredients are at risk for food fraud, and to be on the alert for specific adulterants in the ingredients in question. This tool will not provide an answer for all fraudulent uncertainties; but it will provide information with which to make informed food-fraud management decisions. Using the information gathered, effective risk prioritisation can assist in food-fraud management within an organisation.

Fraudsters use scientific techniques to stay ahead of the food industry when it comes to detection methods. Targeted analysis of a specific marker of adulteration may be the cheapest way to catch adulteration while a workaround is developed. To stay ahead, however, non-targeted approaches may be more beneficial.

A non-targeted approach provides details on the distribution and abundance of a related group of analytes. While this might seem unnecessary, it can be thought of in the same way as a fingerprint: once you know what ‘normal’ is, you’re able to spot products that deviate. Looking at a broad collection of molecules makes detection more difficult to evade. When there is reasonable evidence for concern, further analysis can confirm the presence of and quantify adulterants in a product.

Using analytical techniques involves the selection of an analyte or a group of analytes for detection or quantification. Prior knowledge of the characteristics of the analyte will be required for these analyses.

Other influencing factors for consideration include sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and reproducibility. These factors change over time as technology advances, and skilled fraudsters become capable of outmanoeuvring current analysis techniques. However, this is a Food Safety Management System is the best overall approach to food-fraud prevention.

FACTS has the expertise to provide the food industry with the necessary support for risk priority assessment, using assessment tools to manage food fraud and to suggest and provide the relevant analysis. We provide a focused approach that integrates different aspects of food-fraud risks, including the use of origin, ingredient, commodity scarcity and economic impact as a risk screening tool, using non-targeted and targeted analysis as confirmation, which is different from the standard and limited tests currently available.

In a webinar recorded with Food Focus, our CEO Dr Harris Steinman and Senior Scientific Officer Dr Karim Dhanani present on the topic of ‘Anticipating and Managing Food Fraud’. To view the webinar, please click here or watch below: