Global food fraud - time for action!

For several years, Veterinarians without Borders has been tracking global food fraud. In 2008, we managed to uncover a food scandal about milk powder in Africa contaminated with melamine and lead. Our research in this field regularly takes us to the slums of African megacities. In Africa alone, around 300 million people live in slums. This corresponds to the total population of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Austria!

Slum residents are sourcing their staples on the black market. Many of these foods are inferior, adulterated or harmful to health. Especially the market for milk powder and infant formula is very vulnerable to fraud. For example, cheap urea or melamine are mixed with milk powder to fake an increased protein content, or the highly toxic and carcinogenic formalin to ensure longer shelf life.

Our goal is to hold workshops on food fraud and conduct investigations in the poorest regions of the world. In cooperation with local food control authorities and universities, we train experienced professionals. They get the know-how necessary to detect food fraud and take samples locally and independently.