Food fraud occurs when foodstuffs are placed on the market with the aim of achieving a financial or economic gain through intentional deception of consumers.

The world population is growing. To feed the world and do it sustainably, an urgent and radical shift in our food systems is inevitable. The United Nations have proclaimed the Decade of Family Farming in order to give this paradigm shift the necessary scope. To foster biological diversity and sustainable food production instead of intensive farming...

This alarming result was published by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) in July. Thus, the number of malnourished people has increased for the third year in a row. The report can be found here.

Today is World Water Day. Globally, about 84 percent of extracted freshwater is used for agriculture. According to estimates of the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) by 2030 it is expected that agricultural demand for water alone will outstrip available supply (<link...

Our comments on the issue of food fraud over the last few weeks may have raised the question on measures suited to improve consumer safety. Prof. Dagmar Schoder is head of the working group "Global Food Safety" at the Vetmeduni Vienna. She says: "We need a powerful, efficient food control at global level. A task force should be set up to act...

The probability of food fraud depends essentially on three factors:

1. Is there direct contact between manufacturers and consumers? - Direct contact assures an active feedback loop and hence immediate control. The producer feels obliged to the consumer.
2. Code of honor - Do producers and retailers adhere to appropriate value systems and quality...

Each food scandal is the result of - simplified - either a mistake or intention. The desire to obtain a financial or economic advantage leads some food producers to fraudulent conduct. Others, in turn, misinterpret risks and situations in a grossly negligent way.

However, food fraud is not a phenomenon of modern times. It has existed ever since food was traded for...

Food safety is an issue of growing significance in our globalized world. In order to reduce costs, the food industry increasingly relies on raw materials produced in Africa or Southeast Asia. In developing countries, however, food controls are often unreliable or completely lacking.

At the Vetmeduni Vienna, the working group "Global Food...

Today is the International Day for Tolerance, launched in 1995 by UNESCO. Tolerance allows a decent coexistence of different cultures and religions by allowing other opinions, actions and conventions.

Veterinarians without Borders believe that the ancient knowledge and traditions of indigenous peoples are a very valuable good. Therefore, we collect and document traditional...

November 10th is World Science Day. This day is to remind us of the responsibility that researchers all over the world bear for humanity and the environment. Although it is a human right to benefit from scientific advancements, that right can hardly be claimed, especially in developing countries. Concerning research matters, people in these countries are mostly dependent on foreign...