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The number of food and other fraud allegations being discussed in European countries increased in February.
Data is taken from the European Commission’s second monthly report on unidentified potential fraud. Listed non-compliances may trigger an investigation by the authorities of EU Member States.
The report includes cross-border information shared among members of the Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN) and collected from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the Administrative Assistance and Cooperation Network (AAC), and agricultural administration. It includes charges of fraud of a nature. Food Fraud Network (FFN).
Covers food, animal feed, food contact materials, animal welfare, plant protection products and veterinary medicine.
Out of a total of 318 notifications, 104 mentioned fruits and vegetables. Diet foods, supplements and fortified foods came in second with 31 warnings, followed by cereals and bakery products with 20 warnings. Ethylene oxide was mentioned three times by him in products from Thailand, France and India.
Most of the problems were discovered through border inspections and market regulations. Some were based on whistleblowing information, media monitoring, and consumer complaints. 20 were raised through the company’s own checks.
Fruits and vegetables were also the top product category discussed regarding fraud allegations in January. A total of 111 of the 277 notifications mentioned fruits and vegetables. Diet foods, supplements and fortified foods were second, followed by cereals and bakery products.
Compliance violation highlights
In February, 12 warnings were issued, including in the United States. These included titanium dioxide in pastries, sunset yellow in snacks, L-theanine in energy drinks, and peanuts and cakes to avoid border checks.
The product tampering incidents involved additives that did not comply with the EU’s highest levels, such as sulfites in shrimp from Spain and Ecuador and ascorbic acid in tuna from Spain. Examples of adulteration include the use of other vegetable oils in olive oil, the addition of acacia, honey, and Robusta sugar instead of Arabica coffee, and the omission of venison in venison salami. One example is the use of chicken instead of lamb or beef.
The record tampering case found milk proteins in vegan chocolate and pork and poultry DNA in vegetable preparations. Traceability defects were also detected in Ecuadorian shrimp due to repackaging and changing expiration dates.
Other non-compliances included non-food grade oil diverted for human consumption in Ukraine and salmon that was inedible for consumption in Norway.
Many of the warnings concerned ingredients not approved in Europe, often found in supplements and pesticide residues that do not comply with the EU’s highest levels, primarily in fruits and vegetables.
Several notices mentioned unlicensed Chinese operators and pork, poultry, horse, and cow DNA in snacks and noodles. Document fraud was also identified for plant health certificates for various fruit and vegetable products in Cambodia and Laos.
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