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In this work, a novel one‐class classification algorithm one‐class convolutional autoencoder (OC‐CAE) was proposed for the detection of abnormal samples in the excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra dataset. The OC‐CAE used Boxplot to analyze the reconstruction errors and used the LOF algorithm to handle features extracted by the hidden layer in the convolutional autoencoder (CAE). The fused information provides the basis for more accurate pattern recognition, ensures flexibility in model training, and can obtain higher model specificity, which is important in the field of food quality control. To demonstrate the reliability and advantages of OC‐CAE, two EEM cases related to the authentication of food including the Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar (ZAV) case and the camellia oil (CAO) case were studied. The results showed that OC‐CAE identified all abnormal samples in the two cases, reflecting excellent performance in the detection of abnormal samples, and that it, coupled with EEM, would be an effective tool for the authenticity identification of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global fish and seafood consumption is increasing annually, frequently leading to the emergence of food fraud, mainly related to mislabeling and adulteration like, for example, the use of illicit/unauthorized food additives to mask or delay fish spoilage. Among the available diagnostic tools for control purposes, spectroscopic techniques have often been proposed to identify these kinds of illicit practices in fish and seafood products. The presented study aims to test two cheap and portable near infrared (NIR) spectrometers, a handheld MicroNIR and a pocket-sized SCiO, to uncover use of the illicit food additive Cafodos, a mixture of sodium citrate and hydrogen peroxide used to preserve some fish characteristics (like smell, color, na dtexture). The NIR spectroscopy in combination with chemometric approaches, allowed the successfully classification of (81–100%) samples of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) treated with Cafodos. The study highlights the potential of this technique that, by not requiring pre-treatment of samples with further reagents, is cheaper and safer for the environment. In conclusion, the study confirmed the potential of portable devices for rapid NIR spectroscopy analysis to identify food fraud and ensure consumer safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-value products, such as hazelnuts, are particularly vulnerable to fraud due to their price dependence on geographical origin. Guaranteeing hazelnuts' authenticity is essential for consumer trust and safety. Stable isotope analysis has become a reference method for origin authentication as it is reliable, robust, and easily transferable across laboratories. However, multiple isotopic markers coupled with chemometric techniques are often needed to authenticate food provenance accurately. In this study, we focused on assessing the potential of bulk δ18O, along with δ2H and δ13C of the main fatty acids, as hazelnut-origin authenticity markers. PLS-DA classification models were developed to differentiate samples (n = 207) according to their region of origin. This multi-isotopic approach provided promising external validation results, achieving a 94% global correct classification rate in discriminating hazelnuts from regions with distinct geographical and environmental conditions. This study lays the groundwork for further model development and evaluation across additional production areas and harvest years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food fraud presents a growing threat globally, impacting consumer health; food safety; and brand credibility. The key motivation for food fraud is usually an economic or financial advantage. Economically motivated food fraud (EMA) is the illegal deception, deliberate and intentional substitution or addition of a substance in a food product, which may pose a possible health risk to unsuspecting consumers. This study aims to assess the awareness and attitudes of Nigerian consumers towards food authenticity and the regulatory measures in place to combat food adulteration. The study comprised 2160 respondents who were asked about their knowledge of high-profile food fraud incidents, frequently adulterated products, and their opinions of the effects of food fraud and preventative measures. The findings of this study revealed that more than a third of respondents were unfamiliar with the term "food fraud". However, they were aware of local high-profile cases, such as "plastic rice" and counterfeit dairy products. Most participants relied on point-of-sale information for assessing food authenticity, with street vendors being viewed as potential sources of food adulteration. The study also found that more than half of the respondents were concerned about food fraud regardless of whether it involved local or imported products. A wide variety of food items were identified as prone to adulteration or fraudulent activity. These included alcoholic drinks, dairy products, honey, rice, and tomato paste, amongst others. These findings highlight the need for improved consumer awareness, regulatory effectiveness, and remediation efforts to combat food fraud in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape molasses (GM), produced from grapes, is a traditional Iranian food and is widely consumed in Iran. However, GM adulteration is among the most widespread illegitimate procedures involving contamination of food with foreign materials, such as adding sugar–water solution, date syrup, sugar beet syrup, and grape sauce. This study used stable carbon 13C/12C isotope ratio analysis method to detect adulteration of GM samples with glucose syrups (GS), fructose syrups (FS), and beet sugar syrups (BS) at the ratio of 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% (by weight). Physicochemical properties of GM including °Brix, conductivity, specific gravity, pH, moisture content, ash content, hydroxymethyl furfural, sugar content, and rheological properties of samples were investigated. The δ13C isotope ratio of the GM was determined as −26.61%, that of the GS as −13.23%, that of the FS as −13.42%, and that of the BS as −16.58%. The δ13C isotope ratio increased by the addition of adulterant syrups to GM. The addition of each adulterant syrup had a different effect on the physicochemical parameters; however, the °Brix and specific gravity had a positive correlation with the δ13C isotope ratio results. The magnitudes of G' and G" increase with an increase in frequency representing the viscoelastic behavior of samples. The obtained results of this study suggest the use of δ13C isotope ratio method as a fast and accurate method to investigate the adulteration of grape molasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFood fraud has serious consequences including reputational damage to businesses, health and safety risks and lack of consumer confidence. New technologies targeted at ensuring food authenticity has emerged and however, the penetration and diffusion of sophisticated analytical technologies are faced with challenges in the industry. This review is focused on investigating the emerging technologies and strategies for mitigating food fraud and exploring the key barriers to their application. The review discusses three key areas of focus for food fraud mitigation that include systematic approaches, analytical techniques and package-level anti-counterfeiting technologies. A notable gap exists in converting laboratory based sophisticated technologies and tools in high-paced, live industrial applications. New frontiers such as handheld laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and smart-phone spectroscopy have emerged for rapid food authentication. Multifunctional devices with hyphenating sensing mechanisms together with deep learning strategies to compare food fingerprints can be a great leap forward in the industry. Combination of different technologies such as spectroscopy and separation techniques will also be superior where quantification of adulterants are preferred. With the advancement of automation these technologies will be able to be deployed as in-line scanning devices in industrial settings to detect food fraud across multiple points in food supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety is paramount for human life as it prevents foodborne illnesses, protects public health, supports economic growth, and ensures compliance with regulatory standards. However, in recent years, various incidents of crimes against food and their significant public health consequences have been observed, seriously damaging consumer confidence. This article explores the emerging scientific discipline of food safety, which focuses on assessing the health status of food and ensuring that it is safe for consumption. It provides a thorough analysis of crimes committed against the food industry and the regulatory measures implemented to safeguard both the industry and consumers. Regulatory requirements and competent bodies play a crucial role in ensuring compliance and maintaining consumer confidence. However, challenges such as adulteration, lack of consistent definitions, and dispersion in food inspection supervision still persist. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including consistent guidelines, improved communication, and enhanced employee training. Additionally, there is a need for guidelines and legislation regulating the development and validation of nontargeted methods for quality control in the food sector. By addressing these issues, we can further enhance the food safety practices and protect the health of individuals and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mislabeling of seafood, wherein a food product's marketed name does not match its contents, has the potential to mask species of conservation concern. Less discussed is the role of legally ambiguous market names, wherein a single name could be used to sell multiple species. Here we report the first study in Canada to examine mislabeling and ambiguous market names in both invertebrate (e.g., bivalve, cephalopod, shrimp) and finfish products. Methods: A total of 109 invertebrate and 347 finfish products were sampled in Calgary between 2014 and 2020. Market names were documented from the label or equivalent and determined to be precise (the name could apply to only one species) or ambiguous (multiple species could be sold under that name). A region of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene was sequenced and compared to reference sequences from boldsystems.org. Samples were considered mislabeled if the species identified through DNA barcoding did not correspond to the market name, as determined through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fish List. Mislabeling was further differentiated between semantic mislabeling, wherein the market name was not found on the Fish List but the barcode identity was in line with what a consumer could reasonably have expected to have purchased; invalid market names, wherein the market name was so unusual that no legitimate inferences as to the product's identity could be made; and product substitution, wherein the DNA barcode identified the product as a species distinct from that associated with the market name. Invalid market names and product substitutions were used to provide conservative estimates of mislabeling. The global conservation status of the DNA-identified invertebrate or finfish was determined through the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List. A logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between precision and accuracy in predicting conservation status of the sampled species. Results: There was no significant difference in mislabeling occurrence between invertebrates (33.9% total mislabeling occurrence, 20.2% product substitution) and finfish (32.3% total mislabeling occurrence, 21.3% product substitution/invalid market names). Product substitutions sometimes involved species of conservation concern, such as foods marketed as freshwater eel (Anguilla rostrata) that were determined through DNA barcoding to be European eel (Anguilla anguilla), or cuttlefish balls putatively identified as the Endangered threadfin porgy (Evynnis cardinalis). Product substitutions and ambiguous market names were significantly associated with the sale of species of conservation concern, but ambiguity was a more important predictor. Although preventing the mislabeling of seafoods can and must remain a priority in Canada, our work suggests that moving towards precise names for all seafood products will better support sustainable fisheries goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of food authenticity from upstream in the supply chain is critical for the food industry. Environmental challenges and geo-political situations are causing shortages of raw materials resulting in a potential risk for food fraud. An example of this issue is the adulteration of edible oils by the addition of low-price oil, frying oil, or even non-edible grade oils mixtures threatening foods industries, consumer safety, and trust. Reliable screening tools to assess raw materials authenticity are therefore needed. Assessment of an improved alternative approach using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) is shown as a tool to evaluate edible oil authenticity and adulteration. Two methods were tested including an untargeted method based on fingerprints profiling for detection of adulteration with vegetable oil and a targeted method for mineral oil adulteration detection (e.g., paraffin wax). Statistical analysis was applied to determine acceptance criteria range to assess variability, limit of adulteration detection, and reproducibility. The robustness of the method was tested within an interlaboratory study using palm oil. Detection of adulteration with edible oils was achieved at levels from 5 to 25% while < 5% was predicted for mineral oils adulteration. Both methods showed promising results in terms of adulteration detection capability making this approach a reliable, and efficient tool to assess and monitor edible oils quality with added value in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among pets, cats are the most popular in Europe. Despite the fact, the interest in the safety and quality of their food is much lower compared to the interest of caregivers in the nutrition of dogs. In this research, 27 commercial cat foods were analyzed for mislabeled component composition. Cat foods were divided into a control group, a group of fish foods and a group of other foods with alternative sources of animal protein. Chicken and pig DNA detection was performed using real-time PCR. In this research, 100% of the cat foods contained chicken DNA and 96% of the foods – pig DNA, despite the lack of declaration of these ingredients on the product label. The results indicate that cat food appear to be mislabeled to an even greater extent than dog food. Moreover, manufacturers' declarations in terms of ingredient composition do not reflect the actual composition of commercial products available on the market and intended for everyday feeding of animals. Mislabeling of these products also poses a risk for animals suffering from food allergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Food fraud (often called fake food in South Africa) the deliberate misrepresentation or adulteration of food products for financial gain, is a growing problem in South Africa (SA) with severe public health and financial consequences for consumers and businesses. The recent public outcry against food fraud practices especially in communities that have lost loved ones due to the consumption of allegedly adulterated foodstuffs, highlights the grave danger that food fraud poses to consumers and the potential for significant reputational damage to food manufacturers. Despite the risks, food fraud often goes undetected, as perpetrators are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The precise magnitude of food fraud remains obscure, as incidents that do not cause consumer illnesses are frequently unreported and, as a result, are not investigated. Food fraud costs the global economy billion annually. This cost is borne by consumers, businesses, and the government. Food fraud can occur at any stage of the food supply chain, from production to processing to retailing or distribution. This is due in part to the limitations of current analytical methods, which are not always able to detect food fraud. This review of food fraud in SA looks at several factors that may be contributing to epidemic of food fraud, including inadequate penalties, inadequate government commitment, a complex labelling regulation, emerging threats such as e-commerce, and shortage of inspectors and laboratories. The review recommends establishing a single food control/safety authority, developing more food safety laboratories, and adopting innovative technologies to detect and prevent food fraud. SA faces a serious food fraud crises unless decisive action is taken.

Snow Lotus Seed (SLS), esteemed for its nutritional and market value, faces challenges of authentication due to the absence of appropriate testing standards and methods. This results in frequent adulteration of SLS sourced from Gleditsia sinensis (G. sinensis) with other plant seeds endosperm. Traditional chloroplast DNA barcoding methods are inadequate for species identification due to the absence of chloroplasts in G. sinensis seeds endosperm. In this study, the homology of 11 ITS genes among 6 common Gleditsia species was analyzed. Universal primers suitable for these species were designed and screened. A DNA barcoding method for distinguishing SLS species was developed using Sanger sequencing technology, leveraging existing GenBank and Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) databases. Optimized sample pretreatment facilitated effective DNA extraction from phytopolysaccharide-rich SLS. Through testing of commercial SLS products, the species origin has been successfully identified. Additionally, a novel instance of food fraud was uncovered, where the Caesalpinia spinosa endosperm was used to counterfeit SLS for the first time. The study established that the developed DNA barcoding method is effective for authenticating SLS species. It is of great significance for combating food fraud related to SLS, ensuring food safety, and promoting the healthy development of the SLS industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing nations, the widespread practice of adulterating milk with water, driven by economic motives, poses a significant threat to milk derivatives like yoghurt. Despite the absence of mandatory water detection tests for plain yoghurt, our study investigated the repercussions of adding 0–15% water to milk on plain yoghurt quality parameters over 28 days of refrigerated storage. Starter culture kinetics were notably affected, influencing colour and texture. Yet, sensory analysis indicated minimal impact on consumer perception. These results underscore the potential risk of unknowingly consuming adulterated yoghurt, emphasising the necessity for stringent regulatory measures to counteract such practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food fraud is a problematic yet common phenomenon in the food industry. It impacts numerous sectors, including the market of edible mushrooms. Morel mushrooms are prized worldwide for their culinary and medicinal use. They represent a taxonomically complex group in which food fraud has already been reported. Among the methods to evaluate food fraud, some rely on comparisons of genetic sequences obtained from a sample to existing databases. However, the quality and usefulness of the results are limited by the type of comparison tool and the quality of the database used. The Centroid‐based approach is applied by SmartGene in a proprietary artificial intelligence‐based method for the generation of automatically curated reference databases that can be further expert curated. In this study, using sequences of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the genus Morchella (true morels), we compared this approach to the traditional pairwise alignment tool using two other databases: UNITE and Mycobank (MLST). The Centroid‐based approach using an expert‐curated database was more performant for the identification of 53 representative ITS sequences corresponding to validated species (83% accuracy, compared to 36% and 47% accuracy for UNITE and MLST, respectively). The Centroid method also revealed an inaccurate taxonomic annotation for sequences of commercial cultivars submitted to public databases. Combined with the web‐based commercial software IDNS® available at Smartgene, the Centroid‐based approach constitutes a valuable tool to ensure the quality of morel products on the market for actors of the food industry. Practical Application: The Centroid‐based approach can be used by agri‐food actors who need to identify true morels down to the species level without any prior taxonomical knowledge. These include routine laboratories of the food industry, food distributors, and public surveillance agencies. This is a reliable method that requires minimal skills and resources, therefore being particularly adapted for nonspecialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food fraud (often called fake food in South Africa) the deliberate misrepresentation or adulteration of food products for financial gain, is a growing problem in South Africa (SA) with severe public health and financial consequences for consumers and businesses. The recent public outcry against food fraud practices especially in communities that have lost loved ones due to the consumption of allegedly adulterated foodstuffs, highlights the grave danger that food fraud poses to consumers and the potential for significant reputational damage to food manufacturers. Despite the risks, food fraud often goes undetected, as perpetrators are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The precise magnitude of food fraud remains obscure, as incidents that do not cause consumer illnesses are frequently unreported and, as a result, are not investigated. Food fraud costs the global economy billion annually. This cost is borne by consumers, businesses, and the government. Food fraud can occur at any stage of the food supply chain, from production to processing to retailing or distribution. This is due in part to the limitations of current analytical methods, which are not always able to detect food fraud. This review of food fraud in SA looks at several factors that may be contributing to epidemic of food fraud, including inadequate penalties, inadequate government commitment, a complex labelling regulation, emerging threats such as e-commerce, and shortage of inspectors and laboratories. The review recommends establishing a single food control/safety authority, developing more food safety laboratories, and adopting innovative technologies to detect and prevent food fraud. SA faces a serious food fraud crises unless decisive action is taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFood fraud, a pervasive issue in the global food industry, poses significant challenges to consumer health, trust, and economic stability, costing an estimated $10–15 billion annually. Therefore, there is a rising demand for developing portable and miniature sensors that facilitate food authentication throughout the supply chain. This review explores the recent advancements and applications of portable and miniature sensors, including portable/miniature near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, e-nose and colorimetric sensors based on nanozyme for food authentication within the supply chain. After briefly presenting the architecture and mechanism, this review discusses the application of these portable and miniature sensors in food authentication, addressing the challenges and opportunities in integrating and deploying these sensors to ensure authenticity. This review reveals the enhanced utility of portable/miniature NIR spectroscopy, e-nose, and nanozyme-based colorimetric sensors in ensuring food authenticity and enabling informed decision-making throughout the food supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on food fraud and shows a picture of the most critical notifications reported by the Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality worldwide during the year 2023. Knowledge4Policy (K4P) is the EU Commission's platform for evidence-based policymaking. This study aims to provide an overview of the cases of food fraud focused on specific food groups - (fish and seafood, oils and fats, fruit and vegetables, honey and sugar, meat and meat products, wine, alcohol, milk and dairy products, spices and herbs, grain-based food -- cereals - bakery products, eggs, snacks, coffee, tea, cocoa, non-alcoholic beverages, dietic foods supplements, fortified food). The data on food fraud was divided based on world continents (Asia, Africa, South America, North- Central America, Australia, and Europe). The next part of our overview shows the count of food fraud incidents separately each month for 2023. Overall, 419 cases were registered worldwide in 66 countries in 2023. Most cases were registered in Europe, South America, Africa, North-Central America, and Australia. Based on our findings, we can conclude that the highest number of cases were registered in Pakistan, followed by Italy, Brazil, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, and Australia. The most abundant was alcohol-beverages adulteration (18.13 % of the total number of cases reported in 2023 worldwide), followed by meat and meat products (15.03 %), fish and seafood (13.60 %), and grain-based food, cereals, and bakery products (11.69 %). Analysis of notification data showed that the most used type of fraud was grey market trading, mislabeling, document forgery, dilution/mixing, substitution, and unapproved enhancement. Food fraud databases serve as valuable tools for the food industry and regulatory bodies, aiding in mitigating food fraud risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some synthetic dyes are fraudulently added into spices to appeal visually to consumers. Food regulations in several countries, including the United States, Australia, Japan and the European Union, strictly prohibit the use of unauthorised synthetic dyes in food. Nevertheless, illegal practices persist, where spices contaminated with potentially carcinogenic dyes have been documented, posing potential health risks to consumers. In the present study, 14 synthetic dyes were investigated through liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in 252 commercially available spices in the Singapore market. In 18 out of these (7.1%) at least 1 illegal dye was detected at concentrations ranging from 0.010 to 114 mg/kg. Besides potential health risks, presence of these adulterants also reflects the economic motivations behind their fraudulent use. Findings in the present study further emphasise the need for increased public awareness, stricter enforcement, and continuous monitoring of illegal synthetic dyes in spices to ensure Singapore's food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ood authenticity, one of the three major attributes of food, is the property that the true state of food is corresponding to its claims and consumer expectations. The application of food authenticity is beneficial for boosting consumer confidence, improving regulatory efficiency, as well as promoting high-quality development of food industry. Food authenticity can be effectively supported by well -developed laws, regulations, standards, technology, and management systems. To guide scientific research on the food authenticity and promote high-quality development of the food industry, as well as to support government regulation, the relevant experts in academic and industrial circles were organized by Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology to form this consensus after extensive discussions through enquiries, literature retrieval and seminars, which promotes to build a good ecological environment for social co-construction of food authenticity and finally guarantees food safety in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Mexican government has implemented several economic sanctions on producers and marketers of milk bovine cheese due to food fraud such as mislabeling or addition of vegetable fats. However, there have been no official reports on the authenticity of goat cheese. This research aimed to detect adulteration in goat cheese by terms of food substitution with bovine milk or soy protein. For which, bovine cytochrome b genes (274 bp) and lectin genes (118 bp) were amplified in 12 commercial brands of goat cheese by real-time PCR (qPCR) where the detection limit for each species was assigned to the lowest concentration detected with a confidence level ≥ 95% being 0.01 ng/µL for bovine milk, and 0.1 ng/µL for soy DNA. Research findings indicate the absence of soy protein; however, a high degree of adulteration with bovine milk (92.3%) was found. The above evidence suggests the need for regulatory agencies to improve verification and traceability mechanisms to ensure the authenticity of these products and protect consumers by providing reliable information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The 2008 Chinese melamine milk scandal resulted in six reported fatalities and affected around 300,000 children, of whom 54,000 were hospitalised. Previous studies have used linear approaches to examine the root causes of the melamine milk scandal. Design/methodology/approach: In the present study, we applied a systems approach to the melamine milk scandal to identify the complex systems-level failures across the supply chain leading to the incident and why food fraud incidents such as this occurred in the dairy sector. Additionally, systemic failures associated with food fraud vulnerability factors were considered (i.e. opportunities, motivation and control measures). Findings: 48 contributory factors of influence were identified and grouped across six sociotechnical levels across the Chinese dairy system, from government to equipment and surroundings. Lack of vertical integration (processes and communication) contributed to the failure. When viewed from a broader perspective, the melamine milk scandal can be linked to a series of human errors and organisational issues associated with government bodies, the dairy supply chain, individual organisations and management decisions and individual actions of staff or processes. Practical implications: This approach is of value to policymakers and the industry as it supports public health investigations of food fraud incidents and proactive food safety management. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to analyse a food safety or fraud incident using the AcciMap approach and the food fraud vulnerability assessment (FFVA) technique. AcciMap analysis is applied to both unintentional and intentional aspects of the incident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adulteration of goat milk powder occurs frequently; cattle-derived and soybean-derived ingredients are common adulterants in goat milk powder. However, simultaneously and rapidly detecting cattle-derived and soybean-derived components is still a challenge. An efficient, high-throughput screening method for adulteration detection is needed. In this study, a rapid method was developed to detect the adulteration of common cattle-derived and soybean-derived components simultaneously in goat milk powder by combining the CRISPR/Cas12a system with recombinant polymerase amplification (RPA). A dual DNA extraction method was employed. Primers and crRNA for dual detection were designed and screened, and a series of condition optimizations were carried out in this experiment. The optimized assay rapidly detected cattle-derived and soybean-derived components in 40 min. The detection limits of both cattle-derived and soybean-derived components were 1% (w/w) for the mixed adulteration models. The established method was applied to a blind survey of 55 commercially available goat milk powder products. The results revealed that 36.36% of the samples contained cattle-derived or soybean-derived ingredients, which revealed the noticeable adulteration situation in the goat milk powder market. This study realized a fast flow of dual extraction, dual amplification, and dual detection of cattle-derived and soybean-derived components in goat milk powder for the first time. The method developed can be used for high-throughput and high-efficiency on-site primary screening of goat milk powder adulterants, and provides a technical reference for combating food adulteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Local village chicken, or ''Ayam kampung'' as it's known in Malaysia, is considered a premium chicken breed with a higher price than other chicken breeds. As a result of their comparable appearances and sizes, colored broiler chickens are often sold as village chickens, which is a form of food fraud that can result in a 3- to 4-fold rise in profit. Therefore, developing a breed-specific authentication method is crucial for preventing food fraud in the poultry industry. This study aims to investigate the genetic diversity of village chickens from other commercial chicken breed populations available in the market (broiler [Cobb], colored broiler [Hubbard], and layer [DeKalb]) to identify breed-specific DNA fragments as biomarkers for village chicken authentication. The Whole-genome sequencing and mutation calling of 12 chickens (3 chickens/breed) led to the identification of a total of 73,454,654 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and 8,762,338 insertion and deletions (InDel) variants, with more variants detected in the village chicken population (6,346,704 SNPs; 752,408 InDels) compared to commercial breeds. Therefore, this study revealed that village chickens were more genetically variable compared to other breeds in Malaysia. Furthermore, the breed-specific genomic region located on chromosome 1 (1:84,405,652) harboring SNP (C–T) with high discrimination power was discovered and validated which can be considered as a novel breed-specific biomarker to develop a method for accurate authentication of village chickens in Malaysia. This authentication method offers potentialw applications in the chicken industry and food safety.

ABSTRACT Food safety is paramount for human life as it prevents foodborne illnesses, protects public health, supports economic growth, and ensures compliance with regulatory standards. However, in recent years, various incidents of crimes against food and their significant public health consequences have been observed, seriously damaging consumer confidence. This article explores the emerging scientific discipline of food safety, which focuses on assessing the health status of food and ensuring that it is safe for consumption. It provides a thorough analysis of crimes committed against the food industry and the regulatory measures implemented to safeguard both the industry and consumers. Regulatory requirements and competent bodies play a crucial role in ensuring compliance and maintaining consumer confidence. However, challenges such as adulteration, lack of consistent definitions, and dispersion in food inspection supervision still persist. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including consistent guidelines, improved communication, and enhanced employee training. Additionally, there is a need for guidelines and legislation regulating the development and validation of nontargeted methods for quality control in the food sector. By addressing these issues, we can further enhance the food safety practices and protect the health of individuals and communities.

Background The mislabeling of seafood, wherein a food product’s marketed name does not match its contents, has the potential to mask species of conservation concern. Less discussed is the role of legally ambiguous market names, wherein a single name could be used to sell multiple species. Here we report the first study in Canada to examine mislabeling and ambiguous market names in both invertebrate (e.g., bivalve, cephalopod, shrimp) and finfish products. Methods A total of 109 invertebrate and 347 finfish products were sampled in Calgary between 2014 and 2020. Market names were documented from the label or equivalent and determined to be precise (the name could apply to only one species) or ambiguous (multiple species could be sold under that name). A region of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene was sequenced and compared to reference sequences from boldsystems.org. Samples were considered mislabeled if the species identified through DNA barcoding did not correspond to the market name, as determined through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fish List. Mislabeling was further differentiated between semantic mislabeling, wherein the market name was not found on the Fish List but the barcode identity was in line with what a consumer could reasonably have expected to have purchased; invalid market names, wherein the market name was so unusual that no legitimate inferences as to the product’s identity could be made; and product substitution, wherein the DNA barcode identified the product as a species distinct from that associated with the market name. Invalid market names and product substitutions were used to provide conservative estimates of mislabeling. The global conservation status of the DNA-identified invertebrate or finfish was determined through the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List. A logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between precision and accuracy in predicting conservation status of the sampled species. Results There was no significant difference in mislabeling occurrence between invertebrates (33.9% total mislabeling occurrence, 20.2% product substitution) and finfish (32.3% total mislabeling occurrence, 21.3% product substitution/invalid market names). Product substitutions sometimes involved species of conservation concern, such as foods marketed as freshwater eel (Anguilla rostrata) that were determined through DNA barcoding to be European eel (Anguilla anguilla), or cuttlefish balls putatively identified as the Endangered threadfin porgy (Evynnis cardinalis). Product substitutions and ambiguous market names were significantly associated with the sale of species of conservation concern, but ambiguity was a more important predictor. Although preventing the mislabeling of seafoods can and must remain a priority in Canada, our work suggests that moving towards precise names for all seafood products will better support sustainable fisheries goals.

This paper discusses the development of rapid, reliable, and accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detecting opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) in food. Endpoint, quantitative, and digital PCRs were compared based on the amplification of a newly developed DNA marker targeting the NADPH-dependent codeinone reductase (COR) gene. Designed assays were shown to be highly specific and sensitive in discriminating opium poppy from other plant species, even in heat-treated and food samples. Digital PCR was the most sensitive, with a detection limit of up to 5 copies, i.e., approximately 14 pg of target DNA per reaction. Quantitative and digital PCR further allowed the quantification of opium poppy in up to 1.5 ng and 42 pg (15 copies) of target DNA in a sample, respectively. In addition, two duplex PCRs have been developed for the simultaneous detection of opium poppy DNA and representatives of (i) the Papaveraceae family or (ii) the Plantae kingdom. Finally, all designed assays were successfully applied for analysis of 15 commercial foodstuffs; two were suspected of being adulterated. The study results have an important impact on addressing food fraud and ensuring the safety and authenticity of food products. Beyond food adulteration, the study may also have significant implications for forensics and law enforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In an era of increasingly complex and globalised agri‐food supply chains (AFSC), the battle against food fraud has become a pressing concern for both consumers and industry stakeholders. Blockchain technology (BLCT) has emerged as a promising solution to address the challenges of traceability, transparency, and accountability within these supply chains. This paper investigates the enablers that drive the successful implementation of BLCT in combating food fraud. The study uses Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) for analysing the enablers. The enablers were identified using literature review and by consulting industry and academic experts. The study finds that the enablers – immutable ledger, data security, and safety – are important for combating food fraud. The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the identified factors and their interrelationships, offering solutions to policymakers and managers. As various industries and stakeholders collaborate to tackle these pressing issues, BLCT has the potential to reshape the AFSC industry by guaranteeing trustworthiness, transparency, and security for all parties involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied food fraud detection and the reporting of suspected cases using a questionnaire survey and interviews with Finnish food control officers (FCOs). In total, 95 FCOs responded to the questionnaire, and 17 were interviewed. We found that even though many respondents had either suspected (69.2%) or detected (43.4%) food fraud or other food-related crime during the past five years, 46.8% thought they had no realistic chance of detecting food fraud during inspections. Challenges raised by the FCOs we interviewed included inadequate resources (8/17) and difficulties in inspecting documents or establishing their authenticity (14/17). Moreover, many interviewees highlighted difficulties in assessing whether to inform the police about a suspected case (7/17), and 62% (18/29) of respondents who had detected fraud had not reported it to the police. Training in food fraud detection, increased resources and guidelines on reporting suspected food fraud would improve food fraud detection and harmonize reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food authentication and contamination are significant concerns, especially for consumers with unique nutritional, cultural, lifestyle, and religious needs. Food authenticity involves identifying food contamination for many purposes, such as adherence to religious beliefs, safeguarding health, and consuming sanitary and organic food products. This review article examines the issues related to food authentication and food fraud in recent periods. Furthermore, the development and innovations in analytical techniques employed to authenticate various food products are comprehensively focused. Food products derived from animals are susceptible to deceptive practices, which can undermine customer confidence and pose potential health hazards due to the transmission of diseases from animals to humans. Therefore, it is necessary to employ suitable and robust analytical techniques for complex and high-risk animal-derived goods, in which molecular biomarker-based (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) techniques are covered. Various analyticalmethods have been employed to ascertain the geographical provenance of food items that exhibit rapid response times, low cost, nondestructiveness, and condensability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid and accurate classification of aquatic products is crucial for ensuring food safety, production efficiency, and economic benefits. However, traditional manual methods for classifying ark shell species based on phenotype are timeconsuming and inefficient, especially during peak seasons when the demand is high and labor is scarce. This study aimed to develop a deep learning model for the automated identification and classification of commercially important three ark shells (Tegillarca granosa, Anadara broughtonii, and Anadara kagoshimensis) from images. The ark shells were collected and identified using a polymerase chain reaction method developed in a previous study, and a total of 1,400 images were categorized into three species. Three convolutional neural network (CNN) models, Visual Geometry Group Network (VGGnet), Inception-Residual Network (ResNet), and SqueezeNet, were then applied to two different classification sets, Set-1 (four bivalve species) and Set-2 (three ark shell species). Our results showed that SqueezeNet demonstrated the highest accuracy during the training phase for both classification sets, whereas Inception-ResNet exhibited superior accuracy during the validation phase. Similar results were obtained after developing a third classification set (Set-3) to classify six categories by combining Set-1 and Set-2. Overall, the developed CNN-based classification model exhibited a performance comparable or superior to that presented in previous studies and can provide a theoretical basis for bivalve classification, thereby contributing to improved food safety, production efficiency, and economic benefits in the aquatic products industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food fraud poses a significant challenge within the global food supply chain, with apprehensions regarding safety, authenticity, and efficiency. This study conducts a brief review of the literature by utilizing the Web of Science database, analyzing 2331 outcomes pertaining to the subject of food fraud. The analysis results demonstrated a noteworthy surge in scientific publications after 2013, which was propelled by events such as the horsemeat scandal and the formation of the European Food Safety Authority. Utilizing Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), the study identified significant clusters pertaining to food transformation, safety, traceability, and distinct meat sources. In addition, trending topics shifted towards a holistic approach to food safety and the implementation of technologies like Blockchain (BC), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data (BD). These technologies offer enhanced traceability, authentication, automation, and decision-making capabilities. The present research offers valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of food fraud research and the potential of nascent technologies to tackle these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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It is never an easy task to govern contemporary food systems and prevent contaminated foods from reaching further down the chains. This study aims to investigate how UK managers in food supply chains have perceived food fraud risk in their supply chain and to identify what their actions could be in response to the threat of food fraud. The study adopts the psychometric paradigm approach to measure risk perception and uses the data collected from 113 UK food practitioners to identify the determinants of their responsive actions. The results highlight that most managers have perceived high uncertainty in the food supply chain and considered the disruption of information flow as a major concern in dealing with food fraud. Therefore, this study suggests that putting effort into practices to improve supply chain visibility and facilitate the flow of information are weighted as important in the food fraud mitigation journey. Policy makers should also make better use of the current quality assurance schemes for proactive food quality control and fraud prevention; government agencies should improve the risk communication systems for trustworthy information dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper delves into the global agricultural food supply chains through the lens of African perspectives, examining the role of blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in transforming food traceability. It assesses the applicability and efficacy of these innovations in addressing critical issues such as food fraud, contamination, and systemic inefficiencies from an African viewpoint. By engaging in an in-depth analysis of relevant studies, this work dissects the technical, economic, legal, and operational facets of employing blockchain and IoT in the agri-food sector. The findings illuminate the transformative potential these technologies hold for enhancing food safety and transparency across supply chains. However, the review also brings to light significant hurdles related to scalability, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory frameworks that must be surmounted. Advocating for a context-sensitive application of blockchain and IoT, the paper highlights the importance of adapting these technologies to fit the diverse socio-economic and infrastructural realities prevalent in African countries. Offering valuable insights to stakeholders in agricultural technology and food safety, this comprehensive review outlines a roadmap for future research and strategic implementation efforts aimed at leveraging blockchain and IoT for the development of secure, sustainable food systems.

The emergence and development of food fraud are closely related to a country's economic system and social development. It has distinct characteristics in different historical stages, and an inherent historical logic links different historical stages. Following the thread of “what”, “why”, and “what to do”, this study uses a broad perspective and comparative historical approach to examine the evolution of the basic characteristics, underlying causes, and management tools of food fraud in China at different historical stages over 70 years from 1949 to 2022. This study argues that the historical evolution of food fraud in China has characteristics unique to China as well as features similar to those in other countries. It provides a window for academics to understand the historical evolution of food fraud in China. It also provides valuable insights for other countries, especially developing countries, for objectively understanding the evolution of food fraud during their economic development process, and how to address it.

Food fraud refers to deceptive practices conducted for economic gain, and incidents of such fraud are often reported in the media and scientific literature. However, little is known about how European consumers perceive food fraud. To address this gap, a study explored Portuguese consumers' knowledge and perceptions of food fraud using qualitative methods such as free word association and semi-structured interviews. For this research, 340 participants were recruited, providing 911 valid words, classified into categories, major categories, and dimensions. Differences between consumers' previous exposure to food fraud and sociodemographic characteristics were explored. Additionally, other thirty-six participants were selected and interviewed, following a semi-structured guide. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure. The results suggest that Portuguese consumers view food fraud as a morally reprehensible deception and are aware of its causes and impacts. However, not all consumers know the different forms of food fraud or the types of products vulnerable to fraud. Among the most repeated words were “deception”, “expiration date”, and “falsification”. Despite this food fraud awareness, most consumers believed they were not exposed to food fraud and stated that they do not conduct daily practices to reduce exposure to it. Following the chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests, significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were identified between participants exposed and not exposed to food fraud. The study also found that consumers with higher education and self-reported exposure to food fraud had a better understanding of the issue. This study provides insights for quantitative research on consumer perceptions and beliefs about food fraud to explore further vulnerable food categories and types of food fraud in real-world scenarios.

High-value products, such as hazelnuts, are particularly vulnerable to fraud due to their price dependence on geographical origin. Guaranteeing hazelnuts’ authenticity is essential for consumer trust and safety. Stable isotope analysis has become a reference method for origin authentication as it is reliable, robust, and easily transferable across laboratories. However, multiple isotopic markers coupled with chemometric techniques are often needed to authenticate food provenance accurately. In this study, we focused on assessing the potential of bulk δ18O, along with δ2H and δ13C of the main fatty acids, as hazelnut-origin authenticity markers. PLS-DA classification models were developed to differentiate samples (n = 207) according to their region of origin. This multi-isotopic approach provided promising external validation results, achieving a 94% global correct classification rate in discriminating hazelnuts from regions with distinct geographical and environmental conditions. This study lays the groundwork for further model development and evaluation across additional production areas and harvest years.

Global fish and seafood consumption is increasing annually, frequently leading to the emergence of food fraud, mainly related to mislabeling and adulteration like, for example, the use of illicit/unauthorized food additives to mask or delay fish spoilage. Among the available diagnostic tools for control purposes, spectroscopic techniques have often been proposed to identify these kinds of illicit practices in fish and seafood products. The presented study aims to test two cheap and portable near infrared (NIR) spectrometers, a handheld MicroNIR and a pocket-sized SCiO, to uncover use of the illicit food additive Cafodos, a mixture of sodium citrate and hydrogen peroxide used to preserve some fish characteristics (like smell, color, na dtexture). The NIR spectroscopy in combination with chemometric approaches, allowed the successfully classification of (81–100%) samples of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) treated with Cafodos. The study highlights the potential of this technique that, by not requiring pre-treatment of samples with further reagents, is cheaper and safer for the environment. In conclusion, the study confirmed the potential of portable devices for rapid NIR spectroscopy analysis to identify food fraud and ensure consumer safety.

Food fraud presents a growing threat globally, impacting consumer health; food safety; and brand credibility. The key motivation for food fraud is usually an economic or financial advantage. Economically motivated food fraud (EMA) is the illegal deception, deliberate and intentional substitution or addition of a substance in a food product, which may pose a possible health risk to unsuspecting consumers. This study aims to assess the awareness and attitudes of Nigerian consumers towards food authenticity and the regulatory measures in place to combat food adulteration. The study comprised 2160 respondents who were asked about their knowledge of high-profile food fraud incidents, frequently adulterated products, and their opinions of the effects of food fraud and preventative measures. The findings of this study revealed that more than a third of respondents were unfamiliar with the term “food fraud”. However, they were aware of local high-profile cases, such as “plastic rice” and counterfeit dairy products. Most participants relied on point-of-sale information for assessing food authenticity, with street vendors being viewed as potential sources of food adulteration. The study also found that more than half of the respondents were concerned about food fraud regardless of whether it involved local or imported products. A wide variety of food items were identified as prone to adulteration or fraudulent activity. These included alcoholic drinks, dairy products, honey, rice, and tomato paste, amongst others. These findings highlight the need for improved consumer awareness, regulatory effectiveness, and remediation efforts to combat food fraud in Nigeria.

Protein adulteration is a common fraud in the food industry due to the high price of protein sources and their limited availability. Total nitrogen determination is the standard analytical technique for quality control, which is incapable of distinguishing between protein nitrogen and nitrogen from non-protein sources. Three benchtops and one handheld near-infrared spectrometer (NIRS) with different signal processing techniques (grating, Fourier transform, and MEM—micro-electro-mechanical system) were compared with detect adulteration in protein powders at low concentration levels. Whey, beef, and pea protein powders were mixed with a different combination and concentration of high nitrogen content compounds—namely melamine, urea, taurine, and glycine—resulting in a total of 819 samples. NIRS, combined with chemometric tools and various spectral preprocessing techniques, was used to predict adulterant concentrations, while the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were also assessed to further evaluate instrument performance. Out of all devices and measurement methods compared, the most accurate predictive models were built based on the dataset acquired with a grating benchtop spectrophotometer, reaching R2P values of 0.96 and proximating the 0.1% LOD for melamine and urea. Results imply the possibility of using NIRS combined with chemometrics as a generalized quality control tool for protein powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Food adulteration is a global concern, whether it takes place intentionally or incidentally. In Canada, maple syrup is susceptible to being adulterated with cheaper syrups such as corn, beet, cane syrups, and many more due to its high price and economic importance. RESULTS: In this study, the use of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy was investigated to detect maple syrups adulterated with 15 different sugar syrups at different concentration levels. The spectra were collected in the range of 4000–650 cm−1 in the absorbance unit. These spectra were used to build six libraries and three models. A method that is capable of performing a qualitative library search using a similarity search, which is based on the first derivative correlation search algorithm, was developed. This method was further evaluated and proved to be able to capture adulterated and reject non‐adulterated maple syrups, belonging to the color grades golden and amber maple syrups, with an accuracy of 93.9% and 92.3%, respectively. However, for the maple syrup belonging to the dark color grade, this method demonstrated low specificity of 33.3%, and for this reason it was only able to adequately detect adulterated samples from the non‐adulterated ones with an accuracy of 81.4%. CONCLUSION: This simple and rapid method has strong potential for implementation in different stages of the maple syrup supply chain for early adulteration detection, particularly for golden and amber samples. Further evaluation and improvements are required for the dark color grade. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tigernut is a typical foodstuff from a specific region of Valencia (Spain) called 'L'Horta Nord', where it is commercialized under a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) as Chufa de Valencia ('Valencia's tigernut'). PDO‐recognized tigernuts present unique characteristics associated with their particular production region. Increasing demand and the associated expansion of its cultivation area has made necessary an exhaustive quality control to check the geographical origin and quality seal. RESULTS: In this work, a new multivariate analytical method capable of authenticating the PDO quality seal of tigernut samples was developed. Tigernut fat fraction was extracted under optimal conditions, applying the methodology of design of experiments. The analytical method combined fingerprinting methodology and chemometric tools to observe the natural grouping of samples using the exploratory analysis method and to develop classification models (partial least squares–discriminatory analysis; PLS‐DA) to discriminate between two sample categories: (i) PDO tigernuts; and (ii) NON‐PDO tigernuts. CONCLUSION: The built PLS‐DA model demonstrated 100% accuracy, high sensitivity and specificity, revealing that the tigernut fat fraction can be applied to authenticate the PDO quality seal. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an eye-tracking experiment to investigate consumer responses toward local Texas honey. Honey adulteration news was used as a treatment along with product attributes, such as a certified Texas honey seal, price, organic, and product reviews. The eye-tracking technology was applied to examine the effect of attribute-non-attendance to measure the treatment effects more robustly. The results show that honey adulteration information increases consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for some quality-related attributes. The results also show that negative product reviews have a much larger reduction in the magnitude of WTP than the increase produced by positive product reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of food fraud, safety and contaminants remains a topic of public concern, as it has been aligned to potential food scarcity. However, nanotechnology presents a promising opportunity for improving various industries, including food, agriculture, and health. This article aims to examine the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing food safety in Ghana, and its efficacy in addressing prevalent food safety challenges. Nano‐based approaches, such as nano‐packaging, nano‐sensing, nano‐additives, and other nano‐techniques, are discussed as effective methods for addressing major and emerging food safety issues in Ghana, such as food contaminants, antimicrobial resistance, food fraud and adulteration, and poor sanitary conditions. Additionally, the ethical and safety implications of these nano‐based approaches and particles are also deliberated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

feta cheese is a Greek protected designation of origin (PDO) product that is produced in three main phases: milk collection, cheese preparation and maturation, and product packaging. Each phase must be aligned with quantitative rules, stemming from the legislation framework and best practices. The production complexity, the increased production cost, centralised and monolithic traceability systems, and the lack of a systematic monitoring framework have made dairy products a commodity with increased frequency of food fraud. Given the context of the dairy section in Greece, this study aims to examine (a) whether it is possible to model the end-to-end process of PDO feta cheese considering production rules to develop a trustworthy blockchain-based traceability system (b) how to associate the ('easy-to-retrieve', operational) traceability data with the (difficult-to-assess) product characteristics meaningful to the consumer, (c) how to design a technical solution ensuring that information is accessible by the stakeholders and the consumer, while minimising blockchain-related delay, and (d) how to design a graphical user interface and offer tools to consumers so that traceability information is communicated effectively and they can verify it through access to the blockchain. In terms of methods, we analyse and model the process steps, identify measurable, operational parameters and translate the legislative framework into rules. These rules are designed and codified as blockchain smart contracts that ensure the food authenticity and compliance with legislation. The blockchain infrastructure consists of the private Quorum blockchain that is anchored to the public infrastructure of Ethereum. Mechanisms to address scalability in terms of dynamic data volumes, effective data coding, and data verification at the edge as well as relevant limitations are discussed. Consumers are informed about traceability information by using QR codes on food packaging and can verify the data using the blockchain tools and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeast Asia is projected to be the fourth largest economy in 2050, where agriculture and food are key sectors contributing to the regional's GDP. However, ensuring food safety and traceability remains a challenge in the region and this offers ripe opportunity for fraudsters to take advantage of the system. This study aims to provide an overview of consumers' concern about food fraud in selected countries in Southeast Asia. A cross-sectional online survey was implemented in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, yielding 1393 valid responses. Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was conducted first to reduce the large dataset containing nominal variables. After that, ordered logistic regression was performed to predict food fraud concern, with independent variables being dimensions derived from MCA, total knowledge and experience, and demographic characteristics. We found that respondents from Vietnam and Malaysia were significantly more worried about food fraud compared to other countries. Concerns about food fraud were influenced by increased demand for food fraud control, perceived risks of different types of food fraud, information sources from media and personal networks, information sources from credible organisations, and self-experience of food fraud. Practical and policy recommendations for the region were suggested. This is the first empirical study on consumers' concern about food fraud in Southeast Asia. The study embodies the UK Global Food Security and UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 2 ethos of providing the growing global population with access to safe food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food Traceability 4.0 (FT 4.0) is about tracing foods in the era of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) with techniques and technologies reflecting this new revolution. Interest in food traceability has gained momentum in response to, among others events, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing the need for digital food traceability that prevents food fraud and provides reliable information about food. This review will briefly summarize the most common conventional methods available to determine food authenticity before highlighting examples of emerging techniques that can be used to combat food fraud and improve food traceability. A particular focus will be on the concept of FT 4.0 and the significant role of digital solutions and other relevant Industry 4.0 innovations in enhancing food traceability. Based on this review, a possible new research topic, namely FT 4.0, is encouraged to take advantage of the rapid digitalization and technological advances occurring in the era of Industry 4.0. The main FT 4.0 enablers are blockchain, the Internet of things, artificial intelligence, and big data. Digital technologies in the age of Industry 4.0 have significant potential to improve the way food is traced, decrease food waste and reduce vulnerability to fraud opening new opportunities to achieve smarter food traceability. Although most of these emerging technologies are still under development, it is anticipated that future research will overcome current limitations making large-scale applications possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differentiation of fresh and frozen-thawed fish is a relevant authenticity aspect as in the European Union fish holds a high statistical risk of being adulterated. Here, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) in combination with principal components analysis followed by linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) was used for a non-targeted based differentiation of fresh from frozen-thawed fish. To identify the most promising NMR approach(es), six different approaches were applied to 96 fish samples (mackerel, trout, cod). These approaches included different sample preparation procedures and different NMR methods to investigate both the lipid fraction and the polar fraction of the fish samples. After cross-validation embedded in a Monte Carlo resampling design, six independent classification models were obtained. Evaluation of the multivariate data analysis revealed that the most promising approaches were the 1H NMR analysis of the lipid fraction (correct prediction of about 90.0%) and the 1H NMR based screening of minor components of the lipid fraction with a correct prediction of about 91.9%. 1H NMR analysis of the water extract of the fish samples showed a correct prediction of about 82.6%. Hence, a general differentiation of fresh from frozen-thawed fish via non-targeted NMR is feasible, even though the underlying sample batch contained different fish species. Additional fish samples need to be analyzed with the three most promising NMR approaches to further improve the developed classification models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]