Intentional deception using food for economic gain, or food fraud, has been an ongoing challenge since the beginning of the food and drink industry. However, as the global supply chain continues to grow, and becomes more and more complex, so too do the stakes for everyone linked to this chain from manufacturers, retailers, and raw ingredient suppliers to regulators and ultimately the consumer.
And with each new high profile case dominating headlines across the globe, from China’s 2008 melamine scandal where several infants died and thousands became sick to the more recent horsemeat scandal in Europe in 2013 which, although wasn’t a safety issue, created a media backlash of consumer mistrust and anger, industry is now engaged more than ever in finding and adopting new strategies to restore integrity to the supply chain, protect their brand and bottom line, and build consumer trust.
Collaboration is Key to Curtailing Food Fraud
Today food scientists, regulators, criminologists and forensic accountants are collaborating with industry to better understand and curtail food fraud. Similarly, regulatory bodies and standards-setting organizations are seeking input from key stakeholder groups with the goal of helping to create more proactive regulations and guidance that ensures authentic, safe, quality food for everyone.
That is why USP is participating in an upcoming Food Fraud eCongress webinar series in partnership with leading organizations like FoodDrinkEurope, The National Center for Food Protection and Defense (NCFPD), Oceana, SSAFE and the University of Portsmouth and the University of Manchester.
9-part Webinar Series Begins March 4th, Features USP
This Food Fraud eCongress, a complimentary 9-part webinar series, will provide access to some of the latest academic and scientific research being conducted into food fraud today as well as important industry guidance and key strategies to help identify potential vulnerabilities within the supply chain. For more information, visit: http://xtalks.com/food-fraud.ashx
Jeff Moore, Ph.D., a senior scientific liaison for food standards at USP, will discuss ensuring the integrity of food ingredient supply chains in part 6 of the 9 part webinar series on Tuesday, March 24 at 11 am EDT. Dr. Moore’s webinar will provide an overview of USP’s draft Guidance on Food Fraud Mitigation including:
- How to carry out a fraud vulnerabilities characterization for food ingredients
- How to develop a mitigation strategy to address identified vulnerabilities
- Information resources available to aid in vulnerabilities characterizations
- Analytical tools available from USP to mitigate food fraud vulnerabilities
How to Register for the Webinar
Register now for the entire webseries which begins March 4th, with a Keynote presentation entitled, “The Globalization and Complexity of Today’s Food Network: A Recipe for Food Fraud”.
To learn more about USP’s Food Fraud Database go to our website.
