The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) has issued an ‘AMBER’ alert to all food industry stakeholders, warning of a significant surge in fraudulent activities that threaten the integrity of the food supply chain. The most concerning of which is the deliberate falsification of laboratory test certificates – an act that enables unsafe or non-compliant products to enter the market undetected.
Here, Rob Easton, Strategic Risk and Safety Director at Shield Safety, shares his expertise to explore how food fraud is carried out, and offers recommendations and guidance on best practice.
The rise in fraudulent laboratory results is a critical concern for businesses that rely on test results to assess food safety, ensure compliance with legislation, and approve the use of products or suppliers. Any compromise in these areas can have severe legal, financial and reputational consequences.
We are seeing increasingly sophisticated methods used by criminals to manipulate test results from altering genuine documents, to presenting misleading data and forging certificates from inactive laboratories. These deceptive practices put consumer safety and regulatory compliance at serious risk, and it is therefore now more important than ever for businesses to remain vigilant and strengthen their due diligence processes.
How Food Fraud is Being Carried Out
The NFCU has identified multiple fraudulent tactics being used to mask food safety violations. One common approach is the tampering of genuine laboratory documents, where key details such as dates, test results or certification numbers are deliberately altered to misrepresent compliance. Another method is the use of misleading secondary data sources, whereby fraudsters provide spreadsheets or reports where critical data has been manipulated, often omitting out-of-specification results. In addition, there has been a recognised increase in forged certificates from closed laboratories, for which criminals exploit details from non-operational or defunct labs to fabricate false certifications.
These deceptive practices not only compromise food safety but, also erode trust within the industry. Businesses must implement rigorous verification processes and collaborate with authorities to prevent fraudulent activities from slipping through the cracks.
Recommended Actions
If there is reason to believe that a test result is fraudulent, several steps can be taken. Firstly, meticulously review all documents, seeking out errors in wording, layout or discrepancies in dates on certificates. Format can be a key indicator; issues such as shadowing or misalignment around key data, including dates, signatures or values, could indicate tampering.
Where possible, verify original sources. Rather than relying on second-hand references such as Excel spreadsheets, access results directly through official portals or review the original emails. If in doubt, contact the laboratory named on the certificate directly or report concerns directly to the NFCU.
Additionally, stay vigilant for document fraud in other certificates, such as third-party assurance certificates, Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certificates, and product specifications.
Reporting any concerns to the NFCU promptly helps to protect the integrity of the food supply chain. By remaining vigilant and following guidance, businesses can prevent food fraud, safeguard public health and maintain consumer trust. https://shieldsafety.co.uk/
Rob Easton is Strategic Risk and Safety Director at Shield Safety and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.