10 replies to this topic

[sutan77]

Hi

 

I'm having difficulty to source food fraud databases. I used to utilise USP food fraud database for my VACCP and it is really useful information to support risk assessment. However, now it cannot be accessed for free.

 

Does anyone know any other similar website that can be accessed for free before I prepare to propose to the business to budget US$1200/annum to access USP database 

 

Regards

 

Sutan77

[Charles.C]

Hi sutan,

 

The 2015 presentation attached below notes 3 specific databases - RASFF, EMA, USP

The first 2 are discussed/exampled at some length.

 

1^st one is publically accessible and searchable (Honey >371 hits/details for 2009-2016 !) but is presumably Geographically EC limited.

2nd one I am unsure of precise status (link was broken) but I suspect from memory/further searching has limited access (see PPS below).

3rd one we all know about.

 

 Food Fraud,2015.pdf   2.62MB   647 downloads

 

The Cupboard seems rather Bare. Further input only too Welcome !

 

 

PS - Here is a 2013 Review of Databases "related" to Food Fraud. It has many suggestions but the majority are, i think, not directly impacting.

 

 Review_Food_Fraud_Databases, 2013.pdf   82.77KB   456 downloads

 

PPS - a (2013) link for some background info.on EMA -

http://www.naturalpr...ulteration.aspx

[Karenconstable]

Hi Sutan, Hi Charles,

 

Yes, the cupboard is indeed bare!  

 

The USP database is very comprehensive and easy to use but now costs US$1200 per year, as Sutan mentioned.  

There is another database called FoodSHIELD which was still free last time I checked, although you have to be approved before you can access it (just trying to keep out the food fraudsters, I guess).

The RASFF database Charles mentioned is still available, but limited to Europe.  

There is also a USA seafood fraud portal which can be accessed by anyone.

 

Karen

Edited by Simon, 19 October 2016 - 07:20 PM.
Removed web link

[Charles.C]

Hi Karen,

 

From the Registration Page, FoodShield looked more like a data-mining set-up.

 

I could not find any database associated with the seafood organization ?.

 

Clearly a business opportunity was noticed/acted upon.

[Karenconstable]

Hi Charles,

 

Thank you for the heads up about the FoodSHIELD link having expired.  FoodSHIELD is operated by The Food Protection and Defense Institute, which is part of the University of Minnesota and partially funded by the USA Department of Homeland Security.  They maintain a database of economically motivated adulteration incidences which is accessible to members and which used to be easy to find (!).  It seems that in the last few months the membership criteria have been tightened significantly and members are now restricted to representatives from local, state, and federal governments; the military; and laboratories that perform analyses related to all stages of the food supply.  The database is still mentioned in their brochure but there is no longer any direct access on the non-member parts of their website:  https://www.foodshie...hield-brochure/

 

Likewise the USA-government funded Fishing and Seafood Fraud Committee website used to have a search function on their notices.  The Notices section lists FDA alerts for illegal imports of seafood, among other things so it functioned like a de-facto database of fraud in seafood. It's been moved to this page: http://www.seafood.nmfs.noaa.gov/ but is no longer much use as the search function has been removed.

 

I can't help but wonder if USP were able to exert some influence on the owners of these other databases because the changes to access and search-ability have coincided with the introduction of the fees for the USP database.

 

To sum up it appears that the cupboard is even barer than we thought!  These days, the only database of food fraud that is accessible to industry personnel does indeed seem to be USP's www.foodfraud.org, with the membership fees mentioned by Sutan.

[JulietteSafeFood]

Hi, 

 

With regards to free Food Fraud Databases - has anyone tried this database before - https://www.foodfrau...sk-information/ - and did you find it suitable?

 

Kind regards.

Juliette  

[GMO]

I've recently found this resource.  http://www.foodauthenticity.uk/

 

There are some really good articles on there.  Remember Horizon Scanning isn't just looking at what has happened before but looking into potential threats which a database wouldn't necessarily include.  My information sources for my HS include articles from the BBC, Financial Times, Food Manufacture as well as more traditional sources like RASFF.  I've not found a chargeable database yet which has been worth the money for my sector but it may be different for others.

[mgourley]

Another resource I recently came upon is https://trello.com/b...isk-information

 

Some pretty useful info there.

 

Marshall

[Lampros Michas]

Hi Sutan,

 

There is also an online incident-based tool, as well, www.foodakai.com, retrieving data from official sources around the world, informing the subscribers as soon as sth. comes up.

Apart from the notification module, there is also a statistical tool that sorts hazards per ingredient(or end product) against categories like B, C, P, fraud, organoleptic, FCMs, etc. 

Has a basic annual subscription, and u can check it as well!

 

Kind regards

Lampros Michas

[nlesperance]

Try using the RASFF portal!

 

https://webgate.ec.e...vent=searchForm

 

You can specify your search based off the type of commodity (i.e. food, feed, direct food contact material), as well as the hazard category (i.e. fraud/adulteration, allergen, biological or chemical contamination, defective packaging, etc.)

[Charles.C]

Try using the RASFF portal!

 

https://webgate.ec.e...vent=searchForm

 

You can specify your search based off the type of commodity (i.e. food, feed, direct food contact material), as well as the hazard category (i.e. fraud/adulteration, allergen, biological or chemical contamination, defective packaging, etc.)

 

Hi nlesperance,

 

Thks for link.

 

Also see the pdf file, Post 2.

 

I believe the data is for Europe only ? (see Post 3)