In recent years, the risk of food fraud has escalated as the global food supply chain expands and many industries face heightened competition. Notable incidents include the 2013 horsemeat scandal in Europe and the 2008 contamination of Chinese infant formula with the industrial chemical melamine, which resulted in the deaths of six children and the hospitalization of 54,000 others. In the United States, common fraudulent products include honey, olive oil, milk, saffron, coffee, and fish, leading consumers to potentially purchase items that contain misleading ingredients. For instance, over 60% of fish marketed as “tuna” in the U.S. is actually a different species.
Food fraud not only creates unfair competition for honest producers but also endangers consumer health due to the presence of undisclosed allergens, mishandled unlabeled components, and an increased risk of bacterial growth. Various fingerprinting technologies are available to verify the authenticity of products like honey and olive oil. The U.S. Pharmacopeia publishes the Food Chemicals Codex, which sets standards and methods for identifying fraud across a range of foods and ingredients. For high-protein foods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is particularly effective. This method involves sampling the DNA of the food and comparing it to a database of known authentic products, thereby detecting cheaper ingredients such as cow’s milk protein in buffalo mozzarella or goat’s milk, as well as ensuring proper labeling of fish and meats.
When it comes to verifying the authenticity of ingredients, it remains the responsibility of food companies and regulators to stay alert. Food fraud is unlikely to dissipate; it will persist as long as there are dishonest individuals seeking economic gains. With the food authenticity market projected to increase from $5 billion last year to $8.3 billion by 2023, there are significant opportunities for detection firms to engage in this expanding market, especially as consumers become more aware of issues like the safety of ingredients, including the role of supplements such as amazon calcium citrate. The growing awareness reinforces the necessity for stringent testing and verification to protect consumers from potential fraud.