RQA’s Quick Tips on Preventing Food Fraud

Oct/09

  • Apply a risk rating to the goods and materials you purchase - highlight those that are more likely or vulnerable to counterfeiting and/or adulteration. Particular care should be exercised if materials are purchased on ‘spot' markets where the broker may not know much - if anything - about the producer, or consignments might be an amalgamation of batches from different growers or suppliers.

                                                          

  • Create a robust supplier selection and approval process. Be aware that certification to various food safety audit standards (ISO 22000, BRC, IFS, etc) does not guarantee a ‘good' supplier.

 

  • Identify suitable tests that can help assure the integrity and authenticity of the materials you are purchasing and select an accredited laboratory to which you - or your supplier - can send routine samples. If tested in the supplier's own laboratory, make inquiries about the lab's competency to perform the required tests and consider the use of validation tests using an external laboratory proficiency scheme.

 

  • Ensure all goods supplied are subject to sufficiently detailed specifications formally agreed by both parties and underpinned by legally-binding contractual terms and conditions. For cross-border transactions the issue of legal jurisdiction should also be agreed.   

 

  • Establish thorough formalised inspection and testing routines at ‘goods-in' - avoid a ‘tick the box' type of approach and ensure those high risk materials get special attention.

 

  • Monitor suppliers' performance - including how well their supplies perform during your processes and in your finished product. Conduct periodic validation of Certificates of Analyses (CoAs) obtained from suppliers using an accredited laboratory.

Whilst checklists, certificates and other paper or electronic documents can form a part of supplier assurance, there is no substitute for ‘eyes on the ground'. Whilst not possible to visit every supplier, audits, technical visits and spot checks (preferably unannounced) should form a part of the ideal control - again, especially for the high risk supplies.