Food commodities and ingredients that are expensive and are part of complex supply chains are particularly vulnerable. Both herbs and spices fit these criteria perfectly and yet strategies to detect fraudulent adulteration are still far from robust. An FT-IR screening method coupled to data analysis using chemometrics, and a second method using LC-HRMS were developed with the latter detecting commonly used adulterants by biomarker identification. The two tier testing strategy was applied to 78 samples obtained from a variety of retail and on-line sources. There was 100% agreement between the two tests that over 24% of all samples tested had some form of adulterants present. The innovative strategy devised could potentially be used for testing the global supply chains for fraud in many different forms of herbs.

Read the full article at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030881461630680X

An investigation by Italian authorities has put 3 Maltese companies registered to Italian nationals at the centre of a criminal activity in which thousands of tons of conventional wheat, maize, soybeans, rapeseed and sunflower seed were being imported from non-EU countries (Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan) and exported to Italy as organic products. 

Read the article at: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/64943/malta_at_the_centre_of_organic_food_fraud__#.Vzmet5ErLcs

Marketing of cocoa and chocolate products made from single origin cocoa is becoming more popular. However, a reliable analytical method able to verify the geographical origin of cocoa is lacking. The potential of HR MAS ¹H NMR (Magic-angle spinning NMR in solid state) on cocoa powder combined with chemometrics for metabolic profiling was assessed for the geographical origins of 60 fermented and dried cocoa beans of 23 different cocoa producing countries from the three major crop-growing areas (Africa, Central/South America, Asia/Oceania) was evaluated. The same samples were also subjected to extraction and analysis with liquid solution ¹H NMR. The same metabolites were determined by both methods apart from the additional determination of of cocoa lipids by HR MAS ¹H NMR, which were lost in the extraction for liquid ¹H NMR. HR MAS ¹H NMR  gave better discrimination in the verification of geographical origin.

Read the abstract at: NMR determination of cocoa origin

Cyclopropane fatty acids (CPFA), as lactobacillic acid and dihydrosterculic acid, are components of bacterial membranes and have been recently detected in milk and in dairy products from cows fed with maize silage. A specific quantitative gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method for the detection of CPFA in cheeses has been developed. This method was applied to 304 samples of PDO cheeses of certified origin, including Parmigiano Reggiano (Italy), Grana Padano (Italy), Fontina (Italy), Comté (France), and Gruyère (Switzerland). Results showed that CPFA were absent in all of the cheeses whose Production Specification Rules expressly forbid the use of silages (Parmigiano Reggiano, Fontina, Comté, and Gruyère). CPFA were instead present in variable concentrations (300–830 mg/kg of fat) in all of the samples of Grana Padano cheese, where silage feeding is permitted.  The method was applied to a mix of grated Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano, showing that the method is able to detect the counterfeiting of Parmigiano Reggiano with other cheeses up to 10–20% Grana Padano content. 

Read the full abstract:  http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.6b00913?journalCode=jafcau

Australian scientists are using big data analysis of the genomes of 3500 species of micoorganisms, plants, algae and insects in order to find when "disease genes" jump species during evolution. Genes that have been laterally transferred may hold clues to genes that help the pathogen survive, evolve and cause disease, and therefore assist in the search for disease resistance.

Read the article at:  http://www.sciencewa.net.au/topics/agriculture/item/4166-in-focus-searching-big-data-for-disease-resistance-in-crops

Determination and quantification of durum wheat adulteration with common wheat has been successfully developed using DNA methodology. However, this assay is time consumer and requires specialist equipment. A feasibility study of determining durum wheat adulteration with common wheat grains using multispectral imaging (MSI) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has been carried out. The two techniques have been successful in rapidly distinguishing durum wheat from common wheat grains, and permitting quantitative determination of the amount of common what present.

Read the full paper at:  http://file.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2016042814342947.pdf 

Master Halal Meat butchers in Ayres Road, Old Trafford, was found guilty of two counts of food fraud at Trafford Magistrates Court on 1 April, and fined £15,000. Two inspections two months apart by Old Trafford EHOs had found  lamb pattie taken from the bakery section contained 50% beef on both visits.

Read the article at:  http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/14421045.Skimping_Halal_butchers_slapped_with___15_000_fine_for_lacing_lamb_mince_with_cheap_beef/?ref=twtrec

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) seized 1,000kg of sub-standard  red chili powder mixed with bran and rice flour on 19 April 2016 from Shabbir Goods Transport Company near Sheranwala Gate, Lahore. On 20 April,  2,000 kg of chili powder mixed with artificial colour, oil and rice flour were seized by the PFA from Javed Grinding Unit in Akbari Mandi.

Story reported in: http://tribune.com.pk/story/1088806/crackdown-3000-kg-adulterated-red-chili-powder-seized/

2Blades is a not-for-profit organization,  focusing exclusively on advancing scientific insights into practical applications for crop disease resistance. 2Blades have funded John Innes Institute, Norwich to breed wheat stem rust resistant varieties of wheat. It has also funded the Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich to  introduce a resistant gene for Asian soya bean rust into soyabeans, and a blight resistant gene into  potatoes.

Read more at:      http://esciencenews.com/articles/2016/04/25/scientists.advance.disease.resistance.3.worlds.most.important.crops 

A study has been completed to look at the ratio of stable isotopes of  δ¹⁸O, (D/H)_I, (D/H)_II, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr moving from the soil, through the cultivation of grapes and their preparation at different stages into wine.  The isotopic ratio of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr does not vary significantly from grape to wine, and δ¹⁵N has been proposed as further isotopic marker for the geographical characterisation of grape products.

The paper in Food Chemistry by Caterina Durante et al is in press, but the abstract can be read at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814616306318

Yakub Moosa Yusuf ran a fraudulent food business that flouted hygiene regulations and cost farmers and businesses hundreds of thousands of pounds. He was prosecuted by the FSA and Bradford Council, and jailed for 5 years 10 months after being found guilty at Leeds Crown Court on 15 April.

Read the article at: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/14428754.UK_s__worst_food_fraud_criminal__jailed_for_nearly_six_years/

An improved method to determine whether apple juice had been added to purple grape juice has been published. The two markers for apple juice are the flavonoid phlorizin, and sorbitol. The authors validated the hplc method, and tested some Brazilian market grape juices, which indicated that 4 out of 39 samples were adulterated.

Read the abstract at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713516301748

Food safety MEPs reiterated their support for introducing mandatory country of origin labelling of meat in meat products (single ingredient and meat ingredient greater than 50%) and milk, and milk in dairy products in a non-binding resolution voted on Tuesday 22 March 2016.

Read the EP Press release at : http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160321IPR20300/MEPs-reiterate-call-for-mandatory-country-of-origin-labelling-of-meat-and-milk

Ten thousand tonnes and one million litres of fake food and drink seized in largest ever global operation in 57 countries  during Joint Interpol - Europol Operation "Opson V" from November 2015 to February 2016. The Europol news release gives an overview of food fraud operations across the world.

Read more at: http://www.europol.europa.eu/content/largest-ever-seizures-fake-food-and-drink-interpol-europol-operation

and: http://www.policeprofessional.com/news.aspx?id=25770

The price of vanilla beans has slowly risen over the past four years- last year increasing by 150%- making the spice the second most expensive in the world. According to data company Mintec: “In mid-2015, prices started to rise sharply due to poor crops in Madagascar, the main vanilla producer. There will probably have a knock on effect on foods using vanilla - ice cream, yoghurt, cakes etc.

Read more at: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/656965/ice-cream-shortage-summer-vanilla-crisis-prices-soar

The Food Crime Annual Strategic Assessment (FCASA), carried out by the FSA’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) on behalf of the FSA and Food Standards Scotland, examines the scale and nature of the food crime threat to the UK’s £200 billion food and drink industry. The assessment will inform the NFCU’s priorities over the next year. 

Read more detail at: http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2016/15017/the-food-standards-agency-fsa-has-today-published-the-first-assessment-of-food-crime-in-the-uk

Read the Report at: http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/fsa-food-crime-assessment-2016.pdf

Sylvain Charlebois (Food Institute, University of Guelph) discusses some of the fraud and counterfeit problems occurring in the Canadian Food Market, and the methodology that the University of Guelph and others may develop to control them.

Read the full article at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/counterfeit-products-threatening-the-food-industrys-delicate-balance/article29220689/

The number of inspections on outlets selling counterfeit alcohol and misrepresented food between April 2012 and March 2015 rose by 10 per cent - from 115 to 127. Despite efforts to combat food crime by councils and Trading Standards, 40% cuts to budgets in England and Wales are beginning to take effect. In Birmingham, TSOs carried out 102 inspections, the highest figure recorded from 243 councils. Despite this increase, the overall rate of inspections remains low.

In January 2015, HMRC launched the 'Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme' (AWRS), which requires all businesses selling alcohol to other businesses to register with the scheme by 31 March 31 2016. The scheme aims to further regulate the alcohol trade by reducing the sale of illegal alcohol and help recoup the £1.2bn that HMRC estimates is lost through evasion of alcohol duty and VAT each year. In March 2015, Newham Council destroyed £75,000 worth of illegal alcohol, which had been seized from shops selling alcohol without a license and from restaurants selling wines and spirits without paying the correct duty.

Read the article at: http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/news/commercial/consumer/25751/under-resourced-local-authorities-struggle-tackle-food-crime