Don’t loot, root out fraud

Food fraud is on the rise and needs our urgent attention on all levels.

Food categories that are especially vulnerable are seafood, liquids, spices, fruits, vegetables and meat.

Some may believe that food fraud is a victimless crime. This is not so. First, the food economy is at stake. For any food business to grow and offer high-quality food products, it requires consumer trust. If trust is lost, then everything the industry is trying to accomplish will become more difficult. Most food companies are ethically sound, but you need only a few cases of food fraud to damage the reputation of an entire industry.

More importantly, consumers with allergies and food intolerances are likely to feel more vulnerable than other consumers. Consequently, food fraud is as much a socioeconomic issue as it is a public health one.

Consumers should adopt caution when shopping for food and visiting restaurants. They should look for inconsistencies in pricing and quality. If a food product is much cheaper at one outlet, perhaps the deal is too good to be true.

Our government also has an important role to play in preventing food fraud. Regulators should encourage consumers to come forward with tip-offs. Also, the government should establish research centres that could do random testing to detect sectors affected by food fraud.

This is where our focus should be — rather than attacking foreigners and looting their businesses. —