Authentication Solutions for Food Industry

Food adulteration is a big menace worldwide.

Introduction: In the latest Operation OPSON, coordinated by Europol’s Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition and INTERPOL, more than €100 million worth of potentially dangerous food and drinks were seized. Enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and private sector partners from approximately 78 countries took part in the OPSON VIII operation resulted in more than 67,000 checks carried out at shops, markets, airports, seaports, and industrial estates. In total, 672 individuals were arrested during the Operation, around 16,000 tonnes, and 33 million liters of likely fake food and drink seized.

The situation is no different in India, and recent news reported in the media is alarming. Recently Delhi Police busted a gang operating for the previous seven years, involved in the manufacturing of ake cumin. The police seized fake cumin more than 450+ bags, each containing 20 g of cumin made of stone dust, semolina, and a grass paste. It is just one of the many instances across the country. A few years go, Harcourt Butler Technical University conducted a study in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, which is a big market for edible oil and supplies to various states. The report found that 70 percent of mustard oil available in that market is adulterated. According to our (Authentication Solution Providers’ Association) report findings, counterfeiting incidents in the country rose by 15% in the year 2019 compared to 2018 (for the period January – October). Food and beverages are amongst the top five sectors which reported maximum counterfeit incidents.

Regulation and Accountability