Food fraud is on the rise. Despite best efforts from businesses and regulators, reported global cases of food fraud rose 10% in 2024 — with early data indicating a similar trend for 2025. A key contributor to this ongoing challenge is today's complex supply chain networks.
Food fraud detection is a challenge in itself, given its covert nature and the evolving methods of adulteration. Add to that an increasingly complex supply chain, and bad actors have opportunities for fraud at every stage of production.
Supply chains are unlikely to simplify any time soon, so what can you do to stay ahead of food fraud amidst this tangled business environment? First, combatting this rising threat takes understanding how your supply chain's structure creates opportunities for food fraud — and what proactive measures you can take to mitigate it.
What is food fraud, and why does it occur?
Referred to by the FDA as economically motivated adulteration, food fraud is the intentional alteration of food products to make them seem better or of greater value. This could include substituting ingredients or deliberately omitting or removing product elements.
For example, food fraud frequently occurs in products like olive oil, which is sold at high prices. Suppliers or manufacturers will cut olive oil with cheaper vegetable oils to increase their profits. This deception forces consumers to unknowingly pay more for an inferior product and can even put their health at risk if products are altered to contain undeclared allergens or contaminants.
For instance, lead chromate — a source of the dangerous chemicals lead and chromium — can be added to products like children's applesauce to change its weight, color, and perceived value.
Food fraud isn’t limited to human food products either. Fraudsters can also alter animal products like feed, which could impact the quality of raw materials used for food products down the line.
Common Food Products Vulnerable to Food Fraud
Although food fraud isn't exclusive to any particular food products, some are more vulnerable to economically motivated adulteration than others. These food products are typically targeted because of their ease of adulteration or potential value. Here are a few of the most common examples and the ways bad actors commonly alter them.
Supply Chain Complexity and Its Role in Food Fraud
The trouble with food fraud, as the FDA openly states, is that it is an act designed to be undetectable. This means experts face challenges identifying this crime even in the most straightforward of supply networks.
But today's supply chains are far from straightforward. The globalization of food supply chains, while beneficial for meeting consumer needs, has created more opportunities for fraudsters to go unnoticed.
Complex supply chains may be unavoidable in today's global economy, but understanding their effects can help you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to watching out for food fraud.
More Stakeholders, Opportunities, and Evasion Time
As food supply chains expand and develop on a global scale, they add more links and increase the distance between supplier and recipient. This growing complexity provides more opportunities for fraudsters to slip in. Think of it as a forest — the more trees, the more places to hide.
With more stakeholders involved from start to finish, it's also more challenging for regulators and businesses to identify exactly who is the party at fault for food fraud. This combination of distance and stakeholders gives perpetrators more time to evade detection and profit more from their scheme.
Reduced Visibility and Oversight
Expanding supply chains also make it more challenging for regulators to get a clear picture of what's happening. Added complexity requires additional oversight to stay on top of potentially fraudulent practices, which isn't always possible on a global scale. Inevitably, something is likely to slip past even the most watchful eye — leading to trouble for manufacturers and consumers alike.
Increased Economic Motivation
The food and beverage industry is constantly expanding — reaching $8.71 trillion in estimated market size in 2025. This means major economic possibilities for criminals looking to cash in on food fraud, and this economic pressure increases the likelihood that fraudsters will take the risk in pursuit of profit.
Pressure Caused by Supply Chain Disruptions
From a manufacturing perspective, supply chain disruptions can force businesses to scramble to find a new supplier for the materials they need. In some instances, this can lead to deceptive suppliers taking advantage of businesses. Some manufacturers may not take the extra verification steps they typically would when vetting suppliers in order to shorten production delays — resulting in potential financial losses and endangering public health due to fraudulent practices.
Mitigating Food Fraud Amidst Complex Supply Chains
As supply chains evolve to keep pace with the global economy, your team must also adapt to prevent criminals from exploiting these intricate systems. Consider these mitigation tactics to reduce the potential impact of food fraud on your operations.
Perform a vulnerability assessment
Your first step toward fighting food fraud is to identify where you are most exposed. From your ingredients to packaging, you need to identify the weak spots in your supply chain and operations where you are most likely to encounter food fraud. From there, you can develop mitigation strategies to reduce the risk these areas present.
Leverage technology to improve traceability
Since complex supply chains make it difficult to verify the validity of your supplies, consider using technology to get the upper hand. Try implementing solutions like:
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Barcodes
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Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
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Internet of Things (IoT)
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Blockchain
These tools let you keep track of your supplies from start to finish. Not only can these be used to verify authenticity, but they can also be crucial for identifying fraudsters during a recall.
Enhance testing protocols
A comprehensive testing strategy is a powerful tool in combating food fraud. Although not enough to prevent food fraud on its own, a thorough testing process can help you better identify fraudulent products before they impact your business.
Testing should be done regularly and strategically on everything from raw materials to packaging. In the event you discover one of your products has been exposed to food fraud, it's imperative that you quickly enact corrective action and report your case to the proper authorities.
Perform regular supplier audits
Whether it be internally or with the help of a third-party expert, supplier audits provide definitive data your team needs to combat food fraud. Checking in on supplier practices helps you better understand the quality of the ingredients you're receiving — either offering peace of mind or revealing problematic practices that require corrective action.
Invest in education and training
An educated team is an agile team. Training your team on the dangers of food fraud — as well as how to handle it — creates a defense barrier around your business. Prepared employees can stay on the lookout for potentially fraudulent behavior and respond accordingly to prevent these issues from affecting operations.
Fight food fraud with expert help
Don't let food fraud catch you off guard. Economically motivated adulteration may be more common than ever, but that doesn't mean you're helpless against it. Navigating supply chains with confidence and foresight will help you fend off the threat of bad actors.
Prepare your team to handle this rising threat with the help of educational resources from AIB International. Whether it be through the self-paced Food Fraud Online: Risk Assessment & Mitigation or the two-day Food Fraud: Risk Assessment & Mitigation virtual public seminar, taking advantage of your resources can set your business up for success in the battle against fraudulent practices.
