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Food Standards Agency

Saturday 4 July 2009

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Food authenticity

Agency research and survey work that investigates food authenticity.

Misdescription of food

Food authenticity is a term which simply refers to whether the food purchased by the consumer matches its description.

Misdescription can occur in many forms, from the undeclared addition of water or other cheaper materials, or the wrong declaration of the amount of a particular ingredient in the product, to making a false statements about the source of ingredients i.e. their geographic, plant or animal origin.

The programme addresses all food authenticity issues, whether linked to a particular product sector such as meat, or more generally to the origin of the food or its ingredients.

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Is it what is says on the label?

‘One of the Agency's strategic objectives is to promote honest and informative labelling and encourage and support initiatives to improve the clarity and value of information provided to consumers. ’

The Food Authenticity Research Programme applies novel technology where possible to develop methods that can be used to check that foods are correctly described and labelled. This helps to ensure that consumers are not receiving misleading information about food, and contributes to reducing food fraud.

The Agency also conducts a prioritised programme of Food Authenticity surveys on food in shops to check that it is what is says on the label.

For further information about this research theme, contact science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

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Find out more

Food Authenticity Research and Surveillance Programmes (Q01 and Q02)

Description of the Agency-funded food authenticity research and surveillance programmes.

Project details: Dairy Products and Eggs

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Project details: fats and oils

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Project details: Fish and Fish Products

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Project details: Fruit Juice, Vinegar, Tea and Alcoholic Drinks

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Project details: Vegetables

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Project details: honey, jams and chocolate

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Project details: meat and meat products

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Project details: Rice, Pasta and Cereals

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Project details: Vegetarian Foods

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

Q01 and Q02 Programme Review

A Review of the Food Authenticity and Labelling Research and Surveillance Programmes (Q01 and Q02) was held on Thursday 6 March 2003 at the Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH.

Project details: Tracing food commodities in Europe

Details of Agency-funded projects under the Food Authenticity research programme (Q01).

See also

Combating food fraud seminar Read about the 11 February 2008 seminar Fighting food fraud Read about the European Food Fraud Conference (29-30 January 2008) Fighting Fund information Read about resources available to local authorities Food fraud database Read about the database for local authorities

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