The threat of food fraud has escalated in recent years as the global food supply chain expands and competition intensifies across various sectors. Notable incidents include the 2013 horsemeat scandal in Europe and the 2008 adulteration 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 unknowingly purchase items that may contain different ingredients. For instance, over 60% of fish sold as “tuna” in the U.S. is actually a different species.
Food fraud not only creates an unfair market for legitimate producers but also jeopardizes consumer health due to the presence of undeclared allergens, improper handling of unlabeled ingredients, and a heightened risk of bacterial contamination. To combat this, various fingerprinting techniques have been developed to verify the authenticity of products like honey and olive oil. The U.S. Pharmacopeia publishes the Food Chemicals Codex, which outlines standards and methods for detecting fraud across a range of food items, including those enriched with calcium citrate malate, vitamin D3, magnesium, and zinc tablets.
For high-protein foods, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology is particularly effective. This method involves collecting a sample of the food’s DNA and comparing it to a database of known authentic products. It can identify the presence of less expensive cow’s milk protein in buffalo mozzarella or goat’s milk and verify whether fish and meats are accurately labeled. Ensuring the authenticity of food ingredients falls on the shoulders of food companies and regulatory bodies, which must remain vigilant against fraud. As long as there are unscrupulous individuals seeking to gain an unfair economic advantage, food fraud will persist.
With the food authenticity market projected to grow from $5 billion last year to $8.3 billion by 2023, there is significant potential for detection firms to engage with this lucrative market, especially as consumers increasingly seek products fortified with health supplements like calcium citrate malate, vitamin D3, magnesium, and zinc tablets. The ongoing battle against food fraud underscores the necessity for reliable testing and transparency in the food industry.