January 2021
Monthly Summary of Articles
on Food Fraud and Adulteration
Retrieved mainly from the JRC tool Medisys (http://medisys.newsbrief.eu)
Food Fraud Cases
A local Malaysian journal discovered a huge fraud case involving fake “halal” Malaysia
certifications. For more than 40 years, the criminal cartel have bribed customs
Meat and meat
officials to smuggle cheap and non-halal meat mislabelled as “halal”, thus increasing
products (other than
its value for the Muslim consumers. The agents seized 1 500 tons of frozen meat
poultry)
(including kangaroo and horse), together with fake labels and rubber stamps. The
Poultry meat and
cartel also utilised the logo of a company famous for its highly-demanded products.
poultry meat products
New Straits Times 21/12/2020 New Straits Times 22/12/2020
IPR – Intellectual
Mashable 23/12/2020
property rights
The Straits Times - Malay Mail - New Straits Times 29/12/2020
Mislabelling
Bloomberg SCMP 30/12/2020
Replacement/ dilution/
The Straits Times 02/01/2021 Daily Muslin 05/01/2021
addition/ removal
Malay Mail 12/01/2021 Malay Mail Food Safety Tech 19/01/2021
The Spanish Civil Guard seized 15 tons of grapes mislabelled as organic (total value Spain
of 24 000 euros). The products should be shipped to companies in Spain and France.
Fruits and vegetables
The Olive Press 11/01/2021
Informacion 11/01/2021 Mislabelling
Fresh Plaza 12/01/2021
The Indian authorities seized almost 10 tons of lollipops and candies (for children) India
adulterated with talcum powder.
Confectionery
India.com 13/01/2021
Business Today 14/01/2021 Unapproved treatment
and/or process
According to the Bulgarian National Potato Growers Association, French and German Bulgaria
potatoes are imported in their country and mislabelled as “Origin: Bulgarian”. The
Fruits and vegetables
average price for imported potatoes (4-6 cents/kg) is usually half of the Bulgarian
ones (11 cents/kg). Mislabelling
Novinite 15/01/2021
Food Focus 19/01/2021
© European Union, 2021
January 2021 – JRC Food Fraud Monthly Report 1/4
The Italian authorities seized almost 2 tons of cheese and more than 100 kg of dried Italy
tomatoes lacking the required documentation or label. Hygienic standards were also
Fruits and vegetables
not respected.
Milk and milk products
Casteddu Online 19/01/2021
Documents
Ansa 19/01/2021
Two Italian companies have been caught selling low-quality apple juice mislabelled as Italy
“organic” and containing expired fruits (with high levels of mycotoxins) and
Non-alcoholic
unauthorised substances (e.g. sugar, plant protection products). Within the operation
beverages
“Bad Juice” the authorities seized 1 411 tons of products, for a total value of 5 million
Mislabelling
euros.
Unapproved treatment
Il Dolomiti 19/01/2021
and/or process
The Spanish authorities denounced a dairy company producing mozzarella from Spain
buffalo’s and cow’s milk, but mislabelled as “100% buffalo mozzarella”, which is a GI
Milk and milk products
product.
EFA News - Zazoom - Anteprima24 19/01/2021 IPR – Intellectual
property rights
The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) seized 27 tons of powdered milk and Jordan
cheese, with falsified nutrition labels, all over the country. The products were
Milk and milk products
apparently not suitable for human consumption as well.
Petra Gov 21/01/2021 Mislabelling
The Indian police uncovered an organisation producing fake turmeric and chilli powder India
starting from chemicals and waste materials (e.g. wood dust and rice powder).
Products were misbranded with the logo of a popular company before entering the Herbs and spices
market.
Counterfeit
Times of India 22/01/2021
IPR – Intellectual
property rights
The Spanish Civil Guard seized 122 tons of meat (poultry, beef, pork, rabbit) unfit for Spain
human consumption, and mislabelled in terms of freshness (e.g. expiry date), origin
and organic labels. The authorities are currently investigating ten companies. Meat and meat
Euro Weekly News 24/01/2021 products (other than
The Olive Press 25/01/2021 poultry)
Food Safety News 27/01/2021 Poultry meat and
poultry meat products
Mislabelling
As part of the “Operation Hitsmo”, the Spanish authorities seized 225 000 bottles of Spain
counterfeit rum (total value of 3.5 million euros) together with the European Anti-
Fraud Office (OLAF). The criminals produced fake labels from three famous brands of Alcoholic beverages
rum in Spain.
Counterfeit
Food Safety News 27/01/2021
© European Union, 2021
Securing Industry 28/01/2021
January 2021 – JRC Food Fraud Monthly Report 2/4
According to a collective action, in Colombia many companies replace part of their Colombia
milk with whey, a liquid by-product resulting from the production of cheese.
Caracol 27/1/2021 Milk and milk products
Occidente 28/01/2021
Replacement/ dilution/
addition/ removal
The Italian authorities seized 2 tons of fish missing the required traceability Italy
documentation.
Giornale di Sicilia 28/01/2021 Fish and fish products
Documents
The Italian authorities seized 6.5 tons of processed meat products, which were sold by Italy
a supermarket without respecting the traceability legislation.
Latina Today 30/01/2021 Meat and meat
products (other than
poultry)
Documents
Other interesting articles
2/01/2021 – PFA report summarising the 2020 activities Pakistan
In 2020 the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) discarded 3.5 million litres of adulterated Herbs and spices
milk and 120 tons of blended spices. Milk and milk products
The News
The News
08/01/2021 – A summary of food fraud cases from 2020 World
An article from an online magazine summarizes the most relevant food fraud cases Food
that occurred during 2020.
Food Safety Tech
08/01/2021 – New insights on food fraud perception from the Eurobarometer EU
The EU Commission published the new Eurobarometer “Making our food fit for the Food
future – Citizens’ expectations” carried out by Kantar with 27 000 interviews in 27
EU Member States. Concerning food fraud, the majority of consumers are worried of:
1) being misled about the true qualities of a food; 2) possible threats to their health
(e.g. toxic substances).
Eurobarometer (PDF)
Food Safety News
Le Blogaa
20/01/2021 – An overview of frauds in the olive oil sector EU
JRC staff contributed to a recent scientific review discussing the food frauds Fats and oils
affecting olive oil, as well as current and future ways to tackle the phenomenon.
© European Union, 2021
Food Control
January 2021 – JRC Food Fraud Monthly Report 3/4
14/01/2021 – Food fraud in the honey sector World
A popular online magazine highlights the challenges in the honey sector, with a Honey and royal jelly
special focus on adulteration practices from China affecting the global honey chain.
Wired
Il Fatto Alimentare
28/01/2021 –Food fraud on the rise in UK UK
According to a report from the Food Authenticity Network, during the Covid-19 Food
pandemic food fraud cases related to adulteration (+30%) and counterfeit (+47%)
increased. Most affected categories include spirits, wine and honey.
The Grocer
28/01/2021 – USA Consumers against seafood fraud, poll reports USA
According to Oceana, the vast majority of USA consumers and politicians would Bivalve molluscs and
support policies against frauds in the seafood sector and in favour of similar products thereof
standards between domestic and imported products. Cephalopods and
Market Screener products thereof
Crustaceans and
products thereof
Fish and fish products
Gastropods
Disclaimer: The presentation of articles reflects their media coverage. In any case, it does not reflect the frequency of
food fraud in a particular country and/or concerning a specific food product. The European Commission does not take
any responsibility for the validity of the information extracted from the media channels scanned. The views expressed
shall not be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission.
The European Commission’s science and knowledge service
Joint Research Centre Copyrights pictures:
© petunyia– stock.adobe.com
© Alex White – stock.adobe.com
© UBE – stock.adobe.com
© Africa Studio – stock.adobe.com
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© European Union, 2021
January 2021 – JRC Food Fraud Monthly Report 4/4
