FSA update from the Food Fraud Working Group

The FSA sets out proposals from the Food Fraud Working Group to strengthen the collective response to food crime.

The FSA, working with food industry partners including fiin, has published a stakeholder message which sets out proposals from the Food Fraud Working Group to strengthen the collective response to food crime:

• launching a new freephone number for the food fraud hotline to make it easier for people to speak up and share their concerns
• working with industry on ways to encourage food fraud whistleblowing 
• strengthening information sharing arrangements between the third-party auditors used by food businesses, and the FSA, to help prevent criminal activity
• improving how the FSA issues intelligence-based alerts to better warn food businesses about potential food fraud in supply chains

"We are pleased to be taking action with the FSA and our partners in the food industry to strengthen the way we can prevent food crime in our supply chains,” says Helen Sisson, fiin co-chair.

The Food Standards Agency has also published two research reports, one estimating food crime costs the UK economy up to £2 billion a year and another which makes recommendations on food crime prevention. ‘The Cost of Food Crime’ research has found the cost of food fraud to consumers, businesses and government is between £410 million and £1.96 billion per year.
 
Also published today is a report called ‘What works to prevent food fraud’ which highlights ways to complement our existing food fraud prevention work and strengthen lines of defence against fraudsters.

Read the FSA release in full here.