News

During March, EFF-CoP launched the EFF-CoP Editorial Board Team! This newly formed board not only produced its first article but also collaborated with New Food Magazine.

By registering on EFF-HUB and becoming a member, you can access the article “The Rising Tide of Food Fraud”, written by EFF-CoP Coordinator, Prof. Saskia van Ruth. As an EFF-HUB member/ ambassador, you will also be the first to hear about all events organised or attended by EFF-CoP.

The first EFF-CoP community-wide event, titled “Igniting Conversation in the European Food Fraud Community,” gathered more than 100 participants from various professions, all united by a common goal: to detect food fraud and deepen their understanding of the topic. You can find more details about the event here: Our First Spark – The EFF-CoP Community in Action.

And the story continues! EFF-CoP is now preparing its first virtual workshop, “Food Fraud Synergies”. In this workshop, representatives from EC sister projects will share their initiatives and actions, bringing fresh perspectives to the fight against food fraud.

👉 Don’t miss it - visit Workshop: Food Fraud Synergies to register today!

This update has also been added to the FAN EFF-CoP page.

This study (purchase required) is unusual in that it sought to investigate the seasonality of fraud over a 12-month period.

Samples were collected from three Peruvian coastal cities—Lima, Chiclayo, and Piura. A total of 1189 samples were collected from 76 retail points, including restaurants, supermarkets, and municipal markets. DNA barcode sequencing was used for species identification, revealing a 67.5 % substitution rate. Restaurants exhibited the highest substitution rate (73.8 %), followed by municipal markets (71.1 %) and supermarkets (27.9 %). Fraud was identified in 89.7 % of substitution cases, often involving high-demand or threatened species, such as hammerhead sharks Sphyrna zygaena and Atlantic eel Anguilla anguilla.

The authors report that seasonal patterns were observed, with certain species like dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus and searobin Prionotus stephanophrys used more frequently at certain times of year.

Photo by Patrick Browne on Unsplash - for illustration, there is no suggestion that this dish is fraudulent

This paper (open access) looked at classifying quinoa, amaranth and wheat flours.

Reference mixtures were prepared in-house:

i) Pure flours, including wheat, quinoa, and amaranth, with two varieties analysed for both quinoa and amaranth;

ii) Double mixtures, which comprised binary combinations of quinoa:wheat flours at 50:50 and 25:75 ratios, and amaranth:wheat flours at 20:80 and 10:90 ratios; and

iii) Triple mixtures, involving combinations of quinoa, amaranth, and wheat flours at 25:10:65 and 12.5:5:82.5 ratios

Volatile profiles of all reference mixtures were measured by both SPME-GC-MS and using a previously-published “electronic nose” sensor (a multiplex of 8 electrochemical sensors).

Twenty-four volatile compounds were identified, including limonene, 1R-α-pinene, and L-β-pinene, which were exclusive to pseudocereal flours, and hexanal, abundant in wheat flour as an oxidation indicator. The authors report that the E-nose achieved 89.7 % accuracy in discriminating between quinoa, amaranth, and wheat flours and effectively separated double and triple mixtures. A PLS model revealed a strong correlation between E-nose data and concentrations of limonene, α-pinene, and β-pinene (R²CV = 0.94–0.95). The integration of GC-MS and E-nose proved highly efficient for flour authentication, with canonical discriminant analysis successfully identifying pseudocereal flours in mixtures with wheat flour,

Photo by Vlad Kutepov on Unsplash

On September 1, 2025, Spain will launch the country’s new independent whistleblower protection authority - Autoridad Independiente de Protección del Informante (AIPI).  This is part of the implemention of Law 2/2023  This law generally applies to companies of 50 employees or more although there are nuances and caveats in the scope of application.  Companies do not necessarily have to be domiciled in Spain to fall within scope - it also applies to foreign-registered companies operating in Spain.  If you are unsure if you are within scope of the law then the advice is to check.

The AIPI brings in new new obligations regarding internal reporting systems and the designation of responsible officers.

From 1 September, companies in scope will have two months to notify the AIPI of the appointment or removal of their designated internal reporting system officers. Although the law does not yet specify the format or platform for these notifications, it is expected that the AIPI will issue operational guidance shortly after its launch.

The AIPI is designed to be a central enforcement and support body with broad powers, including:

• Managing the external reporting channel for whistleblowers.
• Providing protection and support to individuals who report misconduct.
• Initiating and resolving sanctioning procedures for violations of Law 2/2023.
• Issuing circulars and recommendations to guide best practices in whistleblower protection and compliance.
• Developing public sector crime prevention models, which may influence private sector compliance standards

Source - Baker McKenzie blog on Lexology site

This paper (open access) reports the results of an authenticity testing survey of insect-containing food and feed products, purchased both within and outside the EU.

119 commercial products were tested for the declared insect species, using two DNA-based methods, real-time PCR and metabarcoding,. All samples (test portions of 100 mg) were extracted following the method recommended by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Animal Proteins in Feedingstuffs

The authors report that 50% of the products contained insect species not listed on the label, or lacked the species that were declared. In particular, cross-contamination was observed when manufacturers worked with more than one type of insect.  Some products contained insects that are not currently allowed for use in the European Union. Some insect meals also contained traces of animal DNA, which may come from the substrates the insects were raised on. The authors point out that this could cause legal problems if these meals are used in certain types of animal feed.

The authors conclude that their study highlights the need for better quality control in the insect production chain. It also shows that DNA tests are useful tools for authenticating the declared insect species in food and feed products.

Photo by Yeyo Salas on Unsplash

This paper (purchase required) describes the development and validation of a highly sensitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) test kit for detecting trace pork in meat products. A rapid bead-based sample extraction was developed (1–5 min) for the  biomarker (porcine IgG).  The authors report that total test time to result was 20 minutes. The reported detection limit was 0.001 % (w/w), which is 5–500 × more sensitive compared to current commercial lateral flow kits. The LFIA was validated with a range of meat and processed food products, confirming its high specificity to pork without cross-reactivity to other animal species or non-meat ingredients. Moreover, a long-term stability study confirmed that the LFIA maintained its performance at room temperature storage for 2 years.

This study (purchase required) explores the ratio between the values of the saponification and iodine indices in edible oils.  The relationship is used as the basis of a classification model. The approach is termed a Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) study..

The authors report that QSPRs were formulated in 144 vegetable oils, composed of 1–8 fatty acid components. Details of the varieties and sources used for the training and validation sets are not available in the online abstract.  A set of 25,118 mixture descriptors was calculated as linear combinations of the non-conformational descriptors of the fatty acid components and their weight percent compositions. This approach was found useful for discerning natural oils.  The Replacement Method variable subset selection technique was applied afterwards to select the best mixture descriptors in the predictive model.

To test the model, different vegetable oils with known composition, but unknown experimental saponification and iodine indices data, were successfully classified using the established QSPR.

The authors conclude that two-variable QSPR analysis can be extended to fats and other types of oils, such as fish oils. It also serves as a background and database for other methodologies.

New front-of-pack labelling requirements are being introduced in the US.  This will introduce a motivation for fraud which already exists in many other countries with similar compulsory traffic light systems: deliberately omitting or under-declaring a “bad” ingredient or additive in order to make the front-of-pack summary look “healthier”.

The US “Transparency, Readability, Understandability, Truth, and Helpfulness” (TRUTH) in Labelling Act was introduced last month and would require FDA’s proposed rule regarding front of package nutrition labelling (90 FR 5426 (Jan. 16, 2025)) to be finalized within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.

A principal display panel must identify foods with high amounts of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat.  High amounts will be based on Daily Reference Values (DRVs). The phrase “High in” and a conspicuous exclamation point icon would be required.

The front of pack panel must also declare the presence of non-nutritive sweeteners and a “factual” statement that such sweeteners are not recommended for children. The wording of this statement has still to be defined, is contentious, and may be dropped from the final version.

Source: Keller and Heckman blog on the Lexology platform.

Photo by Tsvetoslav Hristov on Unsplash

This study (purchase required) evaluated two portable NIR spectrometers (900–1700 nm and 1450–2450 nm) and a benchtop FTIR device (4000–550 cm⁻¹) for authenticating edible insect flours. The reference data were constructed from flours produced in-house from insects or larvae purchased online: mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae (23 samples), buffalo worm (Alphitobius diaperinus) larvae (28 samples) and crickets (Acheta domesticus) (28 samples).  Data-Driven Soft Independent Modelling Class Analogy (DD-SIMCA) and soft Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (sPLS-DA), were used on the spectral data.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that spectral data of pure insect flours were clustered in the scores plot. DD-SIMCA achieved 100 % sensitivity (SNS) in the test set using FTIR for all insects. NIR Spectrometer in the range of 1450–2450 nm reached 100 % SNS and 100 % specificity (SPS) for buffalo worm and mealworm flour. sPLS-DA showed class sensitivity (CSNS) between 75 % and 100 %, for all three devices tested, with spectrometer in the range of 1450–2450 nm reaching class efficiency rate (CEFF) and total efficiency (TEFF) values ranging from 93 % to 100 %. Also, PLSR achieved RMSEP values as low as 0.44 %, demonstrating its robustness as a tool.

The authors conclude that IR spectroscopy with soft modelling is a non-destructive solution for authenticating insect flours, filling the current gap in rapid and reliable analytical tools for this emerging industry.

Photo by Olga Kudriavtseva on Unsplash

This work (open access) provides genetic marker information and proposes a standard method to support the regulatory classification of premium rice varieties including Basmati, Jasmine, Sushi and Risotto.  It builds on previous reference data sets provided by the same research group (including the University of Bangor, one of FAN’s Centre of Expertise laboratories).

Updated DNA fingerprinting was done for reference samples of 158 commercial rice varieties from 14 countries, collected since 2004. Most samples were obtained directly from the appropriate regulatory body in each jurisdiction, with provenance further substantiated by genetic cluster analysis.

DNA fingerprinting based on 10 SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) markers was introduced in the early 2000s for authenticity testing of Basmati rice. Subsequently the addition of 5 SSRs and the fragrance gene fgr have refined the method for routine use.

This new study evaluated the applicability of the 15-SSR method for authenticity testing of more diverse types of commercially relevant rice that are traded on an international scale. The extensive range of reference samples covered this commercial scope. Most varieties were found to have distinct marker profiles except for eight near isogenic lines and eight closely related traditional varieties. The fgr marker detected several non-fragrant varieties that were incorrectly labelled as Jasmine fragrant rice, one of which was listed as fragrant and tariff-exempt in the EU Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement.

To assess the authenticity of samples obtained from unofficial sources in the trade, UPGMA algorithm and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) were used for marker-based clustering of samples. Most of the unofficially sourced samples clustered according to their expected geographical and genetic origin, supporting their authenticity. The study supports the broader utility of this 15-SSR test, supplemented by the fgr marker, for global rice variety authentication.

The authors conclude that their proposed markers are ideal to underpin ond enforce industrial, legal and free trade agreement standards.

Photo by Rens D on Unsplash

The latest version of this regular free round-up of US and Canadian regulation in the food industry, from legal firm DLA Piper, has been published on the Lexology blog platform.

August's edition includes commentary on:

• Plans to reorganise the USDA
• New senior appointments at USDA and FDA
• CFIA inspection frequency of Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licensed premises
• FDA releases new food toxicity screening tool
• FDA food traceability compliance deadline extended to 2028
• FDA-commissioned report: "Roadmap to Produce Safety: Summary Report of the Produce Safety Dialogue"
• Saskatoon Farm foodborne illness outbreak linked to contaminated water.
• FDA moves to reclassify a synthetic opioid derived from kratom as a controlled substance
• FDA announces 2026 user fees for VQIP and TPP.
• FDA proposes amending Standard of Identity for pasteurized orange juice
• Canada-Australia beef trade reopens after 20-year ban.
• Brazilian coffee companies redirect coffee sales to China in response to US tariffs
• US tariffs may hurt US chocolate producers
• Misleading “Made in Canada” branding prompts scrutiny of grocer compliance
• Federal lawsuit targets Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act
• CDC: Americans get more than half of their calories from ultra-processed foods.
• IFIC report: consumer confidence in safety of the food supply is at a 13-year low
• Avian flu update.

The EC Monthly Reports of Agri-Food Fraud Suspicions reports are a useful tool for estimating fraud incidents, signposted on FAN’s Reports page.  They can be found here.

FAN produces rolling 3-month graphical analysis, a little later than usual this month due to holiday. In order to show consistent trends we have excluded cases which appear to be unauthorised sale but no intent to mislead consumers of the content/ingredients of a food pack (e.g. unapproved food additives, novel foods), we have excluded unauthorised health claims on supplements, and we have excluded residues and contaminants above legal limits.  We have grouped the remaining incidents into crude categories.  Our analysis is subjective, intended only to give a high-level overview. 

Our main takeaway message is that industry risk-assessment too often focusses on specific ingredients as "high risk".  In actual fact, it is the TYPE of fraud that is consistent; falsification of traceability or health documents/certification, illegal import, bulking out more expensive ingredients with cheaper ones.  The affected ingredients or products vary.  This suggests that risk assessment should focus more on motivation and opportunity in the supply chain, and less on "counting RASFFs".

As with all incident collation reports, interpretation must be drawn with care.  This EC collation is drawn from the iRASSF system – these are not confirmed as fraud, and the root cause of each issue is usually not public.  There are important differences in the data sources, and thus the interpretation that can be drawn, of these data compared to other incident collations.  For example:

• JRC Monthly Food Fraud Summaries (which underpin the infographics produced monthly by FAN member Bruno Sechet) - these are unverified media reports, rather than official reports, but hugely valuable in giving an idea of which way the fraud winds are blowing
• Official reports (as collated from commercial databases such as Fera Horizonscan or Merieux Safety Hud, which underpin FAN's annual Most Adulterated Foods aggregation) - these are fewer in number and give a much more conservative estimate of fraud incidence, and may miss some aspects which have not been officially reported
• The Food Industry Intelligence Network (Fiin) free SME Hub.  This excellent resource collates anonymised UK industry test results for the benefit of Small and Medium Enterprises in the food sector (registration and approval required to obtain login).
• Verified reports (where the root cause has been scrutinised and interpreted by a human analyst, for example the FoodChainID commercial database) - these are also few in number, less suitable for drawing overall trends, but give specific insight and information.

This study (purchase required) reports development of a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assay to detect several common avian meat species as adulterants in raw and heat- and pressure-treated meat products. This is an on-site test, taking about 1 hour, with the results visualised by colour changes in the SYTO 24 nucleic acid marker dye.

Conserved regions of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) gene were targeted to design a LAMP primer set specific to avian species. To assess the assay’s performance, six common avian species (chicken, turkey, goose, duck, ostrich, quail) and four non-avian species (sheep, cattle, goat, camel) were tested. DNA was extracted using a salt-based method, and the assay’s specificity and sensitivity were evaluated on raw, cooked, and autoclaved samples.

The authors report that the LAMP assay successfully detected chicken, turkey, goose, and duck DNA. They report detection limits of 110 femtograms chicken DNA In chicken–beef mixtures, 0.1 % chicken in raw and cooked samples and 1 % in autoclaved samples.

For the principle of LAMP, see FAN’s method explainer pages.

Photo by FitNish Media on Unsplash

This review (open access) provides an evaluation of microwave‐based systems (MW) in food applications, integrating both theoretical foundations and practical implementations. The fundamental principles of MW technology, including its theoretical background, sensing mechanisms, and imaging techniques, are discussed. The review then explores the applications of MW sensing and imaging in food analysis, encompassing contamination detection, moisture content evaluation, adulteration detection, quality control, and compositional assessment.

The advantages and limitations of MW systems for food applications are critically analyzed, along with an overview of commercial MW‐based technologies, relevant patent developments, and ongoing international research initiatives.

Finally, the future potential of MWS and MWI in the food industry is discussed, emphasizing their role in advancing real‐time, non‐invasive quality monitoring and strengthening food integrity.

The UK is actively developing a new Food Strategy, focusing on food security, health, environment, and the economy and published a policy paper on 15 July. 

Vision  

A healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient 21st century UK food system that grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes people, and protects the environment and climate, now and in the future.  

A healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient 21st century food system will deliver:   

• a thriving UK food sector that feeds a healthier and more productive UK population and enables economic growth
• a healthier population with reduced diet related ill-health, especially for children and vulnerable people
• better environmental outcomes on land and sea, enhancing nature and ecosystem services while reducing pollution, waste and greenhouse gas emissions
• improved resilience of the supply chain, with reduced impact of shocks and chronic risks on access to healthy and sustainable food.

Seed fraud, particularly the misrepresentation of rice paddy (unhusked rice grain) as rice seed, is a growing concern that threatens sustainability efforts.

This study (open access) proves the concept of using a portable NIR spectroscopic device, combined with chemometric analysis, for rapid onsite identification of rice seed and paddy varieties for real-time verification of seed authenticity.

A total of 280 rice samples, representing four varieties (Agra, Amankwatia, Legon 1, and Jasmine 85) across two categories (seeds and paddy), were analyzed.

After applying various pre-processing techniques and principal component analysis (PCA), the authors report that linear discriminant functions 1 and 2 revealed distinct clustering patterns for both the varieties and categories (rice seed and paddy). Among the classification algorithms used, Random Forest (RF) achieved 100 % accuracy for rice seed identification and 97.38 % for paddy identification in the test sets. Support Vector Machine (SVM) demonstrated 98.15 % accuracy in distinguishing between rice seed and paddy for detecting seed fraud.

The authors conclude that such a portable NIR device can reliably perform varietal identification and seed authenticity checks, including use by seed inspectors, farmers, and regulatory officers.

Photo by Prahlad Inala on Unsplash

This project conducted targeted surveillance sampling of retail food products for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to identify emerging food safety risks and enhance the FSA’s intelligence on the food system. The programme was delivered in partnership with 3 Local Authority Official Food and Feed Laboratories (OLs) and 2 private OLs in England and Wales.

A total of 822 food samples from 24 different food commodity types were purchased from physical and online retailers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and were tested for compliance with relevant food regulations.

The samples were categorised into basket or frequently consumed foods, surveillance foods to inform the FSA’s knowledge of risk, and science and research foods to inform the FSA’s scientific knowledge and policy development. The overall findings showed that most foods were compliant with the testing and assessments undertaken.

Authenticity

A total of 260 samples were tested for authenticity and 94% were reported as authentic.

• When examined microscopically, 5 of the 30 oregano samples were found to contain other leaves in addition to oregano.
• Basmati rice has a unique aroma and flavour, and its cooking qualities make it a premium product. 13% of basmati rice samples tested were found to contain more non-Basmati rice varieties than is permitted.
• Out of the 30 pasta samples claiming to be made from durum wheat one was found to be unsatisfactory for authenticity with common wheat suggested to be present at a level greater than 3%.
• Also, 4 pork sausages were found to contain meat other than pork. The levels were low suggesting the presence was indicative of poor practice or cross contamination rather than deliberate inclusion. Similarly, one lamb mince ready meal contained other meat species, meaning the product was not what the buyer was expecting.

Composition

Compositional aspects of 405 samples were tested, and 87% were compliant.

• Compositional testing was conducted on orange juice which was found to be satisfactory in this regard. However, 23% of chicken ready meals and 23% of pork sausages contained less meat than declared on the label. Additionally, the fat content of milk was incorrect in 1 out of 5 samples tested.
• The claimed levels of caffeine in supplements were inaccurate in 18% of the samples tested. For olive oil samples, 17% did not match the defined profile for olive oils, and extraneous leaf matter exceeded permitted levels in 5 out of 30 oregano samples. Furthermore, 10% of fresh raw chicken samples contained undeclared added water.
• Levels of nitrates and nitrites greater than permitted were found in 3 samples of UK produced bacon. Additionally, 3 minced meat samples did not meet the claimed fat content or required collagen-to-meat protein ratios.
• A low alcohol drink was found to contain higher alcohol levels than claimed, and a non-dairy protein snack did not meet the claim related to protein content.
• Non-compliant composition in these 51 samples means that consumers are not receiving the products they expect or potentially pay a premium for.

This report has also been added to the 'Authenticity Surveys' part (2nd tab) of FAN's Research section.

The survey also reports on food safety related analytes.

This paper (open access) provides a comprehensive overview of emerging non-invasive techniques—such as fluorescence, near-infrared, mid-infrared, and Raman spectroscopy—for assessing meat quality and detecting adulteration.

The key novelty of this review is its integration of bibliometric analysis with a critical evaluation of advanced technologies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Within the tabulated lists of published papers, the authors add their own 1-line opinion on the robustness of the underpinning database or chemometrics, and how near the work is to practical application.

The review highlights the potential of hybrid systems that integrate spectroscopy with chemometrics and machine learning to provide accurate, real-time, and sustainable meat authentication solutions. It also highlights research gaps such as the need for multi-adulterant detection models, standardized validation protocols, and open-access spectral databases.

The authors aim to align their commentary on innovation with regulatory and sustainability frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Photo by Victoria Shes on Unsplash

This study (purchase required) reports a targeted proteomics workflow that identified two peptide markers that could be used to identify chickpea protein in plant-based meat substitute food products.  Chickpea protein has been reported as a commodity with increasing supply and demand pressures as global demand increases.

The authors developed a high-resolution, targeted proteomics workflow for authenticating chickpea protein concentrates using LC-QTOF-MS/MS. Unlike broader spectral fingerprinting approaches such as spectroscopy techniques or nitrogen quantification, this method enables peptide-level specificity, allowing for robust detection in complex food matrices. The workflow used both in-gel and in-solution trypsin digestions

They report the discovery of two chickpea-specific legumin-derived peptides that were consistently detectable and unique among common plant, dairy, and other adulterant sources. To the best of the knowledge of the authors, these are the first peptides suggested for use of chickpea adulteration detection by any proteomics techniques.

They report that detection remained reliable even in commercial chickpea pasta samples containing about 20% total protein. 

Photo by Karyna Panchenko on Unsplash

This paper (open access) reports the outcome of a study in which 104 cinnamon samples purchased at retailers in EU countries, have been investigated. The study showed that a high share of samples, 66.3%, either did not fulfil quality criteria set by international standards, were not compliant with European food safety legislation, were suspicious of fraud, or could be toxic for children due to a high content of coumarin. 

Substitution of Ceylon by Cassia cinnamon, so far the most recognised type of fraud, was not the problem most frequently detected in this study.  Many samples were classified as either strongly suspicious or suspicious, based upon being statistical outliers, but further investigation would be needed to confirm if adulterated. 

The authors report that the use of multiple analytical techniques, namely Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence, Head Space-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, q-PCR, and Termogravimetric Analyses, was needed to cover the full range of irregularities detected in the study. 

Photo by Angelo Pantazis on Unsplash