The food industry is facing some of its toughest hurdles in decades, evidence from two sobering reports reveal.
An increase in the number of fake foods and drinks have raised public safety concerns, while a significant rise in the number of food and drink recalls has also been predicted.
But first food fraud which, according to a new report, is getting much worse due to failing regulatory frameworks, poor surveillance measures, geopolitical problems and increasing climate crises.
Worst affected areas
However, the worst areas affected are in developing nations in Africa, and then conflict zones in the Middle East.
For example, Yemen, the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Chad were the top four countries most at risk of food fraud, while those found to be least at risk included Finland, Australia, South Korea and the United States.
In line with rising food fraud concerns, there’s also been an uptick in the number of food recalls, which are expected to rise again.
Supply chain problems
Supply chain issues, rising biological problems and poor allergen controls are just three of the factors expected to contribute to the hike in food safety recalls.
However, there’s a big focus on the dairy sector, which globally continues to face microbiological handling issues.
The question now is, in a world of so many uncertainties, will the global food and drink industry pull together to resolve the issue?