Home // Insights & Events // Food Fraud
Food fraud has not disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has merely fallen off the front pages of the news.
False ‘organic’ claims; meat substitution especially of lamb and fake olive oil continue to challenge the food industry. With fewer checks and audits due to the pandemic, consumers are right to be suspicious of the bargain ‘Manuka’ honey or ‘wild’ salmon. But it’s not just the final consumer who is being defrauded but also the food processor and manufacturer.
Kelsey Robson, PhD Researcher, at Queen’s University Belfast has just completed an analysis of reported food fraud in the beef supply chain over the last 20 years. She found counterfeiting to be the most common type of food supply fraud. The report – “A 20 year analysis of reported food fraud in the global beef supply chain” can be accessed here.
The highlights include:
Counterfeiting includes products manufactured/ packed on unapproved premises; or without appropriate inspection or documentation; as well as products issued with fraudulent health certificates.
The report provides a fascinating insight into beef supply chain and builds on the work of Prof Chris Elliott who exposed the vulnerabilities in the European beef supply chain in his report following the horse meat scandal of 2013.
Food businesses need to be able to verify that their products are safe and have appropriate traceability
Greenwoods Legal LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership, registered in England, registered number OC306912. Our registered office is Queens House, 55-56 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LJ. A list of the members’ names is available for inspection at our offices in Peterborough, Cambridge and London. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA number 401162. Details of the Solicitors’ Codes of Conduct can be found at www.sra.org.uk. All instructions accepted by Greenwoods Legal LLP are subject to our current Terms of Business. VAT Reg No: 161 9287 89.
Get in touch with us (*Required fields)
Sign up to updates (*Required fields)