Fighting food fraud

Tests carried out in the wake of the crisis revealed that public health was not at risk and that this was a case of food fraud rather than food safety. However, the episode dented consumer confidence and raised questions about the effectiveness of controls along the food supply chain.

Concern about the rising number of incidents of food fraud has led to calls for stronger action in this area, not least because the food chain in Europe is worth some €750 billion a year. The agri‐food Industry is the EU’s second biggest industrial sector, employing 48 million workers in 17 million companies.

The European Commission set about restoring consumer and market confidence through a number of measures, including proposals to strengthen controls along the food chain and toughen penalties for fraudsters. While stakeholders welcome measures to improve the system of controls, the question of who pays for them has already sparked a lively debate.

ESO: Background information: Horsemeat fraud in the food chain http://www.europeansources.info/record/horsemeat-fraud-in-the-food-chain/

ESO: Background information: EU agencies to advise on risks from phenylbutazone in horsemeat http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-agencies-to-advise-on-risks-from-phenylbutazone-in-horsemeat/

ESO: Background information: EU begins month of intensive DNA tests for horsemeat http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-begins-month-of-intensive-dna-tests-for-horsemeat/

ESO: Background information: Widening scandal prompts EU to seek DNA testing of meat http://www.europeansources.info/record/widening-scandal-prompts-eu-to-seek-dna-testing-of-meat/

ESO: Background information: Horsemeat scandal reverberates across Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/horsemeat-scandal-reverberates-across-europe/

ESO: Background information: EU agencies consider phenylbutazone detected in horsemeat of low concern for consumers; recommend improved horse traceability and monitoring of veterinary medicinal residues http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-agencies-consider-phenylbutazone-detected-in-horsemeat-of-low-concern-for-consumers-recommend-improved-horse-traceability-and-monitoring-of-veterinary-medicinal-residues/

ESO: Background Information: Horsemeat scandal: Dutch uncover large-scale meat fraud http://www.europeansources.info/record/horsemeat-scandal-dutch-uncover-large-scale-meat-fraud/

ESO: Background Information: Horsemeat scandal: Dutch trader Willy Selten arrested http://www.europeansources.info/record/horsemeat-scandal-dutch-trader-willy-selten-arrested/

ESO: Background Information: Commission publishes European test results on horse DNA and Phenylbutazone: no food safety issues but tougher penalties to apply in the future to fraudulent labelling http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-publishes-european-test-results-on-horse-dna-and-phenylbutazone-no-food-safety-issues-but-tougher-penalties-to-apply-in-the-future-to-fraudulent-labelling/

ESO: Background Information: Keeping dangerous food off the shelves: Commission publishes annual report on EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-keeping-dangerous-food-off-the-shelves-commission-publishes-annual-report-on-eus-rapid-alert-system-for-food-and-feed/

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