A recent online survey of over 1000 respondents conducted by researchers at Dalhousie University showed that 63 percent of Canadians are concerned about what they see as a widespread practice known as food fraud. According to the study, 40 percent of Canadians polled said they had purchased a food item that they believed was labeled fraudulently.
As food supplies are becoming increasingly globalized and complex, there is a perception that the amount of counterfeit food is increasing, the survey said. The reasoning behind this is that companies are looking to take advantage of a deregulated industry. Therefore, brands must work harder to win over consumer trust in an environment where trust is hard to come by.
There are different types of food fraud, but broadly it can be defined as intentional deception using food for economic gain. While food safety and quality systems concentrate on preventing contamination of produce, food fraud requires deeper insight in order to identify and stop. As a result, proponents have said that not only is it costing the global food trade upwards of US $30 to $40 billion every year, but also poses significant safety and health risks to the public.
Labeling is a communicator between producer and consumer. In an effort to prevent food fraud, Accu-Label, a manufacturer of labels and labeling equipment, said it has developed an anti-counterfeiting measure called 'Verify-it' that aims to prevent the copying and subsequent misuse of labels. The company said it is designed to complement their existing labeling system. Called 'Verify-it™', the label implements safety features similar to what is seen on banknotes.
"Our technology shields brands from being victims of counterfeit and protects consumers against unethical business practices. Consumers need to feel confident when purchasing produce that they can trust what is on the label. Our solution gives consumers the peace of mind that their fruit are coming from where the labels say they are coming from and that goes a long way when you are feeding your family” said Joe Sleiman, President of Accu-Label.
Sleiman also noted that working with regulatory bodies is vital to prevent the spread of any potential food fraud. "There are regulatory bodies that work to protect consumer interests in addition to the industry at whole," he said. "One such organization is The Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) top priority it to protect consumers by safeguarding Canada’s food supply and it does this by verifying that the industry is meeting federal food safety requirements and conducts sampling and tests to detect food safety risks."
With this in mind, Accu-Label encouraged consumers to be more aware of food fraud risks and to support trusted sources. The company noted that resources are at hand to help consumers. "Consumers can subscribe to receive email notifications on high risk food recalls and allergen warnings from the CFIA by visiting http://www.inspection.gc.ca," Sleiman said. "They can keep their eyes peeled for the latest innovations such as the one from Accu-Label offering an extra layer of security through the Verify-it™ labels protecting consumers, retailers and packers alike."
Visit Accu-Label at booth #422 at CPMA.
For more information:
Shubh Singh | Business Development
Accu-Label International
Tel: +1 (519) 727-0888