Food frauds: Global incidents and misleading situations

Visciano, Pierina; Schirone, Maria

doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.010

Cited by 125 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 168 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…However, the standardization of the methodology to be used for species identification is also pivotal to face the food safety and quality concerns in a global food market. In this regard, the DNA based technologies have proven to be very effective as food fraud detection tools [ 13 , 14 ] and the methodology of DNA barcoding based on the cytochrome oxidase I sequences is the most used one [ 12 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 79 ]. In the last decade new techniques such as Real Time-PCR, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), Forensically Informative Nucleotide Sequencing (FINS), Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR), High Resolution Melting Analysis (HRMA), Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) metabarcoding, have been proposed by researchers with the aim of optimizing time, costs and effectiveness of species authentication in multi-species fish products [ 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, the EU Regulation No 1379/2013 on the common organization of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, made mandatory to indicate on the label “ the commercial designation of the species and its scientific name; the production method; the area where the product was caught or farmed, and the category of fishing gear used in capture of fisheries …”. However, it should be noted that the aforementioned regulations have not led to the disappearance of commercial fraud [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

COIBar-RFLP Molecular Strategy Discriminates Species and Unveils Commercial Frauds in Fishery Products

Pappalardo

Giuga

Raffa

et al. 2022

Foods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The DNA analysis is the best approach to authenticate species in seafood products and to unveil frauds based on species substitution. In this study, a molecular strategy coupling Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) DNA barcoding with the consolidated methodology of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), named COIBar-RFLP, was applied for searching pattern of restriction enzyme digestion, useful to discriminate seven different fish species (juveniles of Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus sold in Italy as “bianchetto” and Aphia minuta sold as “rossetto”; icefish Neosalanx tangkahkeii; European perch, Perca fluviatilis and the Nile Perch, Lates niloticus; striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). A total of 30 fresh and frozen samples were processed for DNA barcoding, analyzed against a barcode library of COI sequences retrieved from GenBank, and validated for COIBar–RFLP analysis. Cases of misdescription were detected: 3 samples labeled as “bianchetto” were substituted by N. tangkahkeii (2 samples) and A. minuta (1 sample); 3 samples labeled as “persico reale” (P. fluviatilis) were substituted by L. niloticus and P. hypophthalmus. All species were simultaneously discriminated through the restriction pattern obtained with MspI enzyme. The results highlighted that the COIBar-RFLP could be an effective tool to authenticate fish in seafood products by responding to the emerging interest in molecular identification technologies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COIBar-RFLP Molecular Strategy Discriminates Species and Unveils Commercial Frauds in Fishery Products

Pappalardo

Giuga

Raffa

et al. 2022

Foods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Note that legal liability may arise not only from the sale of contaminated food but also from the sale of wrongly labeled food items. For instance, horse meat labeled as beef in the food scandal of 2013 [106], which had catastrophic economic implications for food chain actors in the UK and across Europe, arose from fraudulent activity in the food chain, which indicates how deception in food chains and lack of appropriate tracking of foodstuffs can create trouble for the whole food system. Central to food system traceability is food system information collection, processing, and real-time interchange.…”

Section: Summary and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digitalization and Future Agro-Food Supply Chain Management: A Literature-Based Implications

Amentae

Gebresenbet

2021

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Achieving transition towards sustainable and resilient food systems is a critical issue on the current societal agenda. This study examined the potential contribution of digitalization of the food system to such transition by reviewing 76 relevant journal articles, indexed on the Scopus database, using the integrative literature review approach and descriptive content analysis with MAXQDA 2020 software. ‘Blockchain’ was the top hit among keywords and main concepts applied to the food system. The UK as a country and Europe as a continent were found to lead the scientific research on food system digitalization. Use of digital technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, big-data analytics, artificial intelligence, and related information and communications technologies were identified as enablers. Traceability, sustainability, resilience to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and reducing food waste were among the key benefit areas associated with digitalization for different food commodities. Challenges to practical applications related to infrastructure and cost, knowledge and skill, law and regulations, the nature of the technologies, and the nature of the food system were identified. Developing policies and regulations, supporting infrastructure development, and educating and training people could facilitate fuller digitalization of the food system.

show abstract

“…Hence, these differences, and the generally low level of digitalisation, may result in inefficient processes and increased susceptibility to human error, a lack of trust and a high risk of food fraud [15]. Food-fraud incidents in particular have become a global food-system challenge, and 'food scandals' occasionally emerge, e.g., the horse meat scandal in Europe in 2013 where horse meat in processed food products was labelled as beef, or when conventional produce is fraudulently labelled as organic [21]. Lack of transparency and trust in current food chains also leads to major concerns about food quality and safety, loss of reputation and financial damage [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Blockchain Technology in the Transition towards Sustainable Food Systems

Wünsche

Fernqvist

2022

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Food systems are both contributing to and affected by environmental degradation and climate change. The transition towards resilient and sustainable food systems is essential to ensure food security and minimise negative environmental impacts. Innovative technologies can accelerate this transition. Blockchain technology (BCT) is attracting attention as it can deliver transparency to complex global food supply chains and has the potential to guide current food production towards better sustainability and efficiency. This case study investigated the opportunities that BCT can offer to food supply chains. Qualitative interviews with eight main BCT providers were conducted to evaluate the current state of BCT and put it into perspective by mapping out advantages, disadvantages, incentives, motives, and expectations connected to its implementation in global food systems. A thematic analysis showed that, while BCT was considered beneficial by all interviewees, uptake is slow due to high implementation costs and the lack of incentives for companies throughout the food chain from farms to food industry and retail. Results further revealed that the advantages of BCT go beyond communication of trustworthy information and development of closer producer–consumer relationships. In fact, it can provide the opportunity to decrease food waste, enhance working conditions throughout the supply chain, and promote sustainable consumption habits. As BCT may be increasingly used in the food supply chain, the results give a basis for future research that may leverage both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine actors’ behaviours. Also, the importance of improving user experiences through functional applications and software to facilitate the adoption of the technology is stressed.

show abstract

Food frauds: Global incidents and misleading situations

Cited by 125 publications

References 168 publications

COIBar-RFLP Molecular Strategy Discriminates Species and Unveils Commercial Frauds in Fishery Products

COIBar-RFLP Molecular Strategy Discriminates Species and Unveils Commercial Frauds in Fishery Products

Digitalization and Future Agro-Food Supply Chain Management: A Literature-Based Implications

The Potential of Blockchain Technology in the Transition towards Sustainable Food Systems

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About