Tip of the Week: During COVID-19, Is My Supply Chain Susceptible to Food Fraud?

During our Monday, April 20 “Food Safety and COVID-19: What Businesses Need to Know” webinar, we discussed food fraud. Alicia Swanson, Food Safety Professional, reviewed a key question to ask of your supply chain to determine whether you’re at risk. Download our complimentary Food Fraud Risk Assessment to determine your risk.

Webinar Recording   Food Fraud Risk Assessment Checklist

How Do I Assess Whether My Supply Chain is at Risk of Food Fraud?

Right now, COVID-19 may be compounding economic factors and supply chain disruptions to make food fraud more attractive.

Products and ingredients like alcoholic beverages, oils and fats, honey, maple syrup, coffee and many others are historically known to be at an increased risk for fraud. As an example, the gap between production and consumption of olive oil (specifically extra virgin olive oil) and honey have been studied. While the global industry is only currently producing a certain amount of these items, the world consumes more of these items than what is produced. Thus, they are being fraudulently diluted, substituted, concealed, mislabeled or otherwise.

By assessing whether these and other historically fraudulent ingredients are used in your supply chain, you can begin to determine vulnerabilities and your risk of fraud.

 Food Fraud Risk Assessment Checklist

Additional Food Fraud Resources

In addition to our Solutions for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19, including our Food Fraud Desktop Assessment, we’ve compiled additional resources that may prove useful in better understanding and mitigating food fraud.

• Food Fraud: Risk Assessment and Mitigation – In our June 4-5 virtual seminar, work with a live instructor to secure your strategy to prevent exposure to fraudulent activity within your supply chain network.
• Food Fraud Online – Reduce your risk of food fraud, with this online, self-paced course. You’ll build consumer satisfaction and trust by strengthening your supply chain.
• Test Your Knowledge on Food Fraud – How much do you really know about food fraud? Put your knowledge to the test and see where you stack up.
• How to not be the next food fraud victim – By integrating basic, common sense strategies into your existing programs, you can prevent becoming a victim of food fraud.
• Food Fraud: What’s Required? - Food companies are considering how economically motivated adulteration or food fraud is accounted for in their food safety plan.
• Consumers’ Demands Underscore Need for Food Fraud Training – With consumers eating more packaged food and the supply chain becoming more complex, companies need to minimize their food fraud risks if they want to position their brand as aligning with consumer demand for transparency and trust.

As you have questions or need additional insights, please contact us at info@aibinterantional.com.