Has COVID ‐19 caused a significant increase in observed food fraud incidents?

Food Science and TechnologyEarly View Review ArticleFree Access Has COVID-19 caused a significant increase in observed food fraud incidents? First published: 01 March 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/fsat.3510_1.xAboutSectionsPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text full-text accessPlease review our Terms Conditions of Use check box below share version article.I have read accept the Wiley Online Library UseShareable LinkUse link this article with your friends colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Massimo Frera, Selvarani Elahi, Mark Woolfe, Sterling Crew John Spink investigate effect pandemic on occurrence incidents. Introduction The effects are being felt across world it is reasonable expect that they potential impact vulnerability global supply chain fraud. Recent reports1, 2 suggest for increased chains due COVID-19. Counterfeiting already been seen hand sanitisers3 personal protective equipment4 (PPE). In view this, researchers examined vulnerability5 data6. contamination worldwide issues growing concern relation consumer protection trade globalisation. collective term used encompass deliberate intentional substitution, addition, tampering, or misrepresentation food, ingredients, packaging; false misleading statements made about product economic gain7. Moreover, risk assessment monitoring increasing required by international standards some countries, government regulations. order conduct ingredients monitor safety issues, key access real time data. A better understanding at an earlier stage means there more reinforce mitigation plans minimise consumers legitimate businesses. Issue Data from Safety HUD (a tool offered Mérieux NutriSciences) was presented webinar April 2020, which showed “dramatic” activity period December 2019 – 2020 compared preceding fourth months; between disruption made. slide shared widely social media causing among stakeholders, whom contacted Authenticity Network requesting independent verification Consequently, NutriSciences collaborated undertake detailed data establish whether incidents indeed increasing. (FAN)8 set-up July 2015 UK Government as direct response Recommendation 4 (Laboratory Services) Elliott Review. FAN now funded private–public partnership open website led LGC, aims create truly network can respond rapid, evidence-based manner next incident so consumers, businesses minimised. It curates information authenticity testing, integrity one convenient location. enables best practice be benefit all stakeholders helping raise ultimately, greater confidence buy. ensures resilient laboratories (Food Centres Expertise) providing fit-for-purpose testing. has over 2,000 members 78 different countries/territories 2019, 12,000 unique users accessed website. dedicated Resource Base created brings together help combat new pandemic-associated challenges. Background source (Figure 1) Industry: Enterprise Risk Management Supply Chain derived HUD9, online database , monitors alerts products raw materials, aim security chains. Figure 1Open figure viewerPowerPoint Slide Presented almost 100 official agencies 60 countries Drug Administrations, Agencies, Health Ministries etc.) well sources (social networks, press releases) monitored daily regulatory/food experts added database. Social input channel strict basis news item only injected into if answers questions starting interrogative word based principle Five Ws10, often mentioned journalism, research police investigations. This also applies scientific reports mention particular years e.g. EUROPOL annual reports. literature outside scope HUD. Availability To date, collated than 45,000 average 30-50 items every working day; includes European Commission's RASFF (Rapid Alert System Feed) system. number factors influence availability data: Every year their introducing entries Some national few weeks, after updated deleted sharing constantly evolving databases introduce enhanced functions Increasing attention broadly reflected available user Specific discrete campaigns organisations related geographical types foods and/or trials testing detection methodologies Digitisation element: not offering digital/easily accessible format. As result, register lot others because collected specific study purpose, openly transparent, organised through digital media. vs tracks both issues. represent vast majority (95% far) making up 5% reflects fact reported incidents, meaning less trend analysis (this could incidents). when identify incident, no clear protocols governing its publication. things stand, main entry Artificial Intelligence track process Instead, each alert manually processed team using fact-checking approach avoiding any interpretation captured sources. original referenced native language critical translated English. Incident processing Processing involves splitting content fields according specified list definitions11. able sort use filters results similar compared. Alerts broken down individual issue i.e. contains mycotoxins labelling would counted two entries, issue. If detected alert/news same makes correlation them, recording single avoid double counting. provides panel, latest facility statistics. dashboard useful statistics, commodity type, mappings trends support included. Methods: Comparison before during began disrupt manufacturing central China around January Western Europe North America went mandatory lockdowns mid-March while variations market demand, fairly constant then report November 2020. 1 comparison (Comparison periods: Aug - 30 Nov (Period Dec 31 2). Given still present, 2) undertaken first 6 months end comparisons mapped onto WHO coronavirus disease infections map illustrate timeframes involved 2. 2Open Coronavirus Disease Daily Global Infectins: 23/11/2020 extracted following basis: All sources, Official were separated Turkey removed comparative exists 2019. 3. 3Open Results Discussion 3) 2, show even removing Turkey, 90 recorded When excluded, 19 Two recent reports12, 13 accepted regulatory oversight impacted restrictions physical inspections / sampling difficult, although extent hard ascertain. UK, announced ‘furlough’ scheme 20 assume negatively Period (2020) but (2019). attempt assess amount activity, total (food excluding Turkey) 1: Jan June = 3,921 2: 3,223 alerts. lower against backdrop reduced pandemic. Taking closer look involved, only, (2020), 22 14 these had 40 marked ‘unknown origin country’, where ‘origin country’ defined country named originated, raising concerns traceability/labelling products. Of note, rises appear Ghana times ‘concerned countries’ (countries where, source, marketed), (2 2020) Hungary (0 8 increases (data upon request). analysed groups periods Turkey. most commodities Table 1. (6 ‘Jan-‘Jun) Most Impacted Commodities categories ‘Jan-‘Jun Absolute Increase % Alcoholic Beverages 5 500 Wine 9 56 Honey Sweeteners 3 167 Meat And Products 50 Poultry 150 Fish 7 29 Fruits,Vegetables Legumes 12 140 Oils Fats Non 0 200 Cocoa, Coffee Tea 400 Mineral Water Note: except shows small considered context percentage increases, give very distorted impression significantly, reality For reason, recommended should giving actual figures alone. Open transparent presentation gives holistic situation decide what action take. (in numerical terms including summarised 4. 4Open ‘Jan ‘Jun Conclusions characterised pandemic, significantly disrupted potentially Considering decreased seems occurred played role cited concerning creates additional confusion possible knowing food. conducted identified since onset (19 reports) (81 weekly fraud, tend ‘local’ regional others. Could indication local occurring currently oversight? useful, therefore, horizon scanning tools publish pertain nature. concluded conditions insufficient evidence ‘dramatic’ COVID-19-related ignored. Joint Research Center's (European Commission) October Monthly Summary Articles Fraud Adulteration14 highlighted ~38 compiled ~24 articles (removing duplication) illustrating reliance how considering relatively variability type difficult statistical comparisons. Following extraordinary meetings Advisory Board May supports conclusion. However, likely true incidence will known until resumption surveillance world-wide point, pandemic-related may emerge. Professor Chris Elliott, Director Institute Security author Review, who recently said “Currently, (UK Crime Strategic Assessment15) states criminal exploitation Covid minimal however, I believe 2021’s tell story”16. meantime, recommends heightened industry extra vigilant existing control measures (COVID-19 Base) mitigate emerging threats. Database provide valuable take protect products, ultimately consumers. going forward, numbers alone assist causes trends. Also, reports, wherever possible, robust analysis, need improve Currently, infancy, reporting managing amounts safety, emphasis prevention has, recently, introduced country-specific legislation17 Initiative18. Thus, anticipated changes coupled awareness devastating country's economy, mean published future. Frera1, Elahi2, Woolfe2, Crew2 Spink3 specialist, Compliance Solutions, Italy Executive Network, LGC limited, Queens Road, Teddington TW11 0LY Secretary Chair Board, 0LY. Assistant Professor, Initiative, Michigan State University, Eli Broad College Business, Department Management, 634 Bogue Street, East Lansing, Michigan, 48864 free join takes minutes sign-up advantage many member benefits receiving round-up month's email National Unit's Newsletters. Email [email protected] References Web references last 25/11/2020. 1Europol, Viral marketing Counterfeits, substandard goods intellectual property crime COVID- 17 2020: https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-documents/viral-marketing-counterfeits-substandard-goods-and-intellectual-property-crime-in-covid-19-pandemic 2ACG Annual Report, 08 https://www.a-cg.org/newsdesk/latest-news/article/acg-launch-its-annual-report Warwickshire County Council, 24/03/2020 Sale fake dangerous sanitiser warning: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/138/24-03-2020-sale-of-fake-and-dangerous-hand-sanitiser-products-warning 4Edmund Proffitt, BDJ Team, dangers PPE, 18 September https://www.nature.com/articles/s41407-020-0399-5 5Crew, S (2020). & Technology Journal: https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/hub-assets/ifst/hub/journal/Food-fraud-and-COVID19_AMENDED-1597076256927.pdf. 6Points, J Manning, L Facing Journal, Volume 34, 3, 1- 23: https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fsat.3403_4.x 7Spink, J., Moyer, D. C. (2011). Defining public health threat Journal science, 76(9), R157- R163. 8The Network: www.foodauthenticity.global 9Merieux HUD: https://regulatory.mxns.com/en/safety-hud 10Wikipedia, Ws: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Ws#cite_note-2 11John Spink, Glossary Fraud-Related Terms, Version: 17, https://www.foodfraudpreventionthinktank.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FFPTTReport-Food-Fraud-Terminology-Glossary-2020-May-17-v17.pdf IAEA, Impact Pandemic Regulatory Activities Radiation Sources, Updated https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/20/09/covid19_nsrw_report_123_countries.pdf Standards Agency publishes authority law enforcement report, 27 https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/fsa-publishes-local-authority-food-law-enforcement-report 14JRC's Published, https://ec.europa.eu/knowledge4policy/sites/know4pol/files/food_fraud_newsletter_10-2020.pdf 15 Assessment https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/food-crime-strategic-assessment-2020.pdf 16 Assessment, New Magazine, https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/article/120948/food-crime/ 17U.S. Administration, FSMA Final Rule Mitigation Strategies Protect Against Intentional Adulteration (content current of: 10/21/2020): https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-mitigation-strategies-protect-food-against-intentional-adulteration 18GFSI steps focus ‘Race Top’ benchmarking requirements, HIS Markit, http://www.foodauthenticity.uk/blog/gfsi-will-increase-its-focus-on-food-fraud?edited=1. 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