Food Authenticity Program Meeting Book (March 13, 2019)

Background to Targeted Testing (TT)

• Food Fraud – Is a deliberate, fraudulent act and usually covers several aspects including the economically motivated adulteration (EMA); • It is defined as the fraudulent, intentional substitution or addition of a substance in a product for the purpose of increasing the apparent value of the product, or reducing the cost of its production, i.e for economic gain.

Background to Targeted Testing (TT)

• Targeted Testing (TT) requires the prior identification of adulterants likely to be present in priority food commodities, subject to EMA and is employed to assure that such adulterants is not threatening the safety and overall integrity of the priority ingredient • Targeted Testing (TT) protocols/procedures have been developed to: – Support authenticity assurance – Ensure the integrity of the food supply chain – Convey the message to those engaged in those practices that they will be prosecuted.