In recent years, the threat of food fraud has escalated as the global food supply chain becomes increasingly interconnected and competition intensifies across various sectors. Notable incidents, such as the 2013 horsemeat scandal in Europe and the 2008 contamination of Chinese infant formula with the industrial chemical melamine—resulting in the deaths of six children and the hospitalization of 54,000—highlight the severity of this issue. In the United States, common fraudulent foods include honey, olive oil, milk, saffron, coffee, and fish, leading consumers to unknowingly purchase products that may contain alternative ingredients. For instance, over 60% of fish marketed as “tuna” in the U.S. is actually a different species.
Food fraud not only creates an uneven playing field for legitimate producers but also poses significant risks to consumer health due to undeclared allergens, mishandled unlabeled ingredients, or heightened risks of bacterial contamination. To combat this, various fingerprinting techniques have been developed to verify the authenticity of foods such as honey and olive oil. The U.S. Pharmacopeia’s Food Chemicals Codex outlines standards and methods for detecting fraud in numerous foods and ingredients.
In the realm of high-protein foods, testing technologies like PCR are particularly effective. This method involves collecting a sample of the food’s DNA and comparing it to a database of known authentic products, enabling the detection of cheaper cow’s milk proteins in buffalo mozzarella or goat’s milk, as well as verifying the accurate labeling of fish and meats. As for the authenticity of ingredients, it is imperative for food companies and regulators to remain vigilant. The prevalence of food fraud is unlikely to diminish; it will persist as long as unethical individuals seek economic advantages.
With the food authenticity market projected to expand from $5 billion last year to $8.3 billion by 2023, there are abundant opportunities for detection firms to enter this market. In addition, the growing interest in health supplements, such as calcium citrate and vitamin D3, underscores the importance of ensuring that these products are accurately represented and free from fraud. As awareness of food fraud increases, the need for reliable verification methods for supplements and food products alike will become ever more critical, especially as consumers seek trustworthy sources of nutrition.