Food fraud is an increasing concern for cold food processors as the food supply becomes more global. In addition, as more brokers and traders join the marketplace, it becomes easier for fraudulent materials to enter the food chain. It’s a costly and growing problem. In fact, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Washington, D.C., estimated in 2014 that fraud may cost the global food industry between $10-15 billion a year, affecting approximately 10% of all commercially sold food products.
According to Michigan State University’s Food Fraud Initiative, food fraud is intentional deception using food for economic gain, including the substitution, addition (or dilution), tampering or misrepresentation of food, food ingredients or food packaging or false or misleading statements made about a product.