Raw pet food, smoky products and unapproved producers were among the problems identified by UK food agencies in a food crime report.
Details come from the Food Crime Strategic Assessment 2024, published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS). Food crime costs Britain up to £2 billion ($2.6 billion) every year.
Seven types of food crime are mentioned: document fraud, theft, waste distribution, unlawful processing, substitution, misrepresentation and falsification.
FSA and FSS say factors such as the conflict in Ukraine, attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea and changes in legislation have disrupted the food chain and contributed to the changing threat of food crime.
Since the 2020 review, there has been a decline in imports of illegally collected shellfish into the UK food chain, likely due to changes in exports after leaving the EU. Some reports include cockles, Manila clams and oysters from unclassified beds or overfished from classified beds in many UK regions. The consumption of shellfish from such areas can pose a threat to public health.
Intelligence on counterfeit horse passports has fallen significantly since the previous assessment.
However, there was an increase in the availability of illegal imports into Britain, known as gray market goods. Non-compliant alcohol, confectionery, soft drinks and meat products have been found in convenience stores. Problems include non-compliant labeling of allergens and unauthorized ingredients.
Smokies and raw pet food
Intelligence showed an increase in the number of unregistered or unapproved premises associated with the handling, production or sale of animal by-products (ABP) in 2023. FSA and FSS said it is likely that avoiding registration is financially motivated, plus the benefit of avoiding regulatory scrutiny. Unregistered companies are unlikely to be identified until a problem arises, such as complaints about substandard products or human diseases.
Consumer demand for culturally preferred products through illegal domestic production and imports remains a prominent theme. This concerns pork from countries where African swine fever occurs. Reporting points to sophisticated methods of deception in response to controls, such as document fraud and false health labels. Illegal processing of sheep and pigs is linked to consumers seeking products to celebrate religious holidays and also to meet demand for meat bred, slaughtered and prepared in styles other than British production.
The demand for smoky sheep and goat carcasses with the skin on has created opportunities for organized criminals who operate from a few locations in Britain, serving consumers in major cities through shops and personal facilities. Production is concentrated in rural Wales.
The increasing popularity and demand for raw pet food has likely contributed to an increase in the number of unregistered businesses. ABP, including high-risk material, is diverted from legal, paid waste disposal routes to producers that are not registered or approved by a local authority. Pet food produced in unapproved locations is not subject to temperature and hygiene controls, posing a health risk to pets and their owners.
In Britain, levels of lead have been found in spices including chilli, turmeric and cinnamon, although it is unclear whether this was deliberate adulteration. In 2023, applesauce products containing cinnamon from Ecuador were recalled in the US due to high lead levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 519 people had been affected by the outbreak. The FDA also collected 90 related adverse incident reports.
Ron McNaughton, head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit, said: “In the four years since our last strategic review, the UK food supply has suffered significant disruption, creating new opportunities for criminal activity. This latest report outlines the key threats to food crime and highlights emerging risks within food systems due to external factors.”
Changing risks
Another threat is the fraudulent entry of livestock into the food chain due to document fraud. This avoids loss of income when the animal is thrown away.
In 2020, cases of illegal slaughter mainly related to out-of-hours operations in approved premises during times of peak demand. However, analysis from 2023 showed a shift towards illegal slaughter on sites such as farms and private lands.
The reporting also includes frozen meat that has been thawed and sold as fresh, with financial incentives likely to be tied to reducing food waste and disposal costs. There are also potential authenticity issues with olive oil, honey, herbs and spices.
Examples of impurities include mixing milks to meet catering requests and using excess turkey to meet chicken orders.
Andrew Quinn, head of the FSA’s National Food Crime Unit, said the risks around fraud were changing.
“We believe that in Britain most food is what it says it is, but even small amounts of food fraud are unacceptable. The more we know about food crime, the better we can tackle it together with the industry and our local government partners to protect legitimate businesses and consumers.”
Issues expected to continue to impact food crime include supply chain disruption, declining local government resources, the new border arrangements and economic pressures on businesses and consumers.
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