Fraudulent Food Products Outbreak in South Africa: a Conundrum for Food Control Authorities

The concept of food fraud or food adulteration has become increasingly important in recent years, as it not only serves as a means for perpetrators to make quick money but also poses significant risks to consumer health. This threat is often fuelled by the use of unmonitored or unregulated ingredients. The rise in food fraud can be attributed to various factors, including the demand for specific food products, inadequate monitoring of food production, poor border management for food control, and the opportunities presented by free trade and entrepreneurship. To gain insights into the extent of food fraud, a review of reported cases from 2015 to 2024 was conducted, focusing on well-known cases in South Africa during this period. The review also examined the products typically implicated in food fraud, and identified the responsible authorities tasked with regulating the manufacturing, handling, and distribution of these products in South Africa. The findings indicate that food fraud is on the rise, with fraudsters becoming increasingly adept at concealing the illegitimacy of their products. While food adulteration may involve the use of uncertified ingredients, the most fraudulent activities occur in uncertified facilities and during processing steps. One of the challenges in controlling food fraud is the fragmentation of regulations and responsible authorities for enforcing these regulations. Over 94% of regulatory requirements identified in six regulatory authorities were found to be duplicated in some way, resulting in an unclear mandate for the industry. To address this issue, a new approach is needed to centralize food control plans in South Africa. This approach should facilitate proper recording, investigation, and resolution of complaints. Additionally, unified regulations, capacity building for authorities, and consumer awareness plans are necessary. A similar approach to the blitz inspection by bringing together food authorities, consumers, and the industry in a single forum to conduct inspection and enforcement and act against food fraud. While this is a good proactive response, however, keeping its momentum could not always be available. Key words: Foods fraud, regulations, illegal, adulteration, food, facilities, food control, fragmentation