The world’s food supply is globalized. There are many markets that sell food from around the world, but some of that food may not be what you think it is. Food fraud has been around for a long, long time, but never on the scale as it is now.
The top products at risk for food fraud are:
- Fish
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Milk
- Saffron, black pepper, and chili powder
- Fruit juices
- Meat
- Grains
- Organic foods
After several high-profile cases of food fraud, primarily in China, some states are stepping up to prevent food fraud, especially since the FDA and the USDA don’t have the budget to inspect everything that comes into stores. Databases are getting built to track incidents and offenders, but it’s not enough. The best way to combat food fraud is to let consumers find out where their food is coming from. When consumers have a connection to food producers, they can learn who they can trust and who they can avoid.
This is one of the big draws of the farm-to-table movement. Markets and restaurants that document where their food comes from is a big draw for foodies who are curious about the taste variations between different farms.
Restaurants should always be on the lookout for food fraud from their suppliers. No restaurant wants to sell adulterated food. Chefs can find out when food isn’t quite right by tasting it during preparation, but some fake suppliers are subtle. Fortunately, adulterated food is more likely to be found in a supermarket.
