Example: Newsletter for Paying Subscribers
An example of what paying subscribers get each week
This example contains content from past issues. Special content for paying subscribers is at the end of the email (usually behind a paywall).
Cronobacter in baby formula: what the FDA found (it’s pretty bad!)
Saffron fraud 101
Shrimp-eye tea water (just for fun)
News and Resources Roundup
Food fraud incidents, updates and emerging issues
🎧 Listen now 🎧
Hi,
Last week the US FDA shared what they had seen at the facility accused of causing fatal food poisoning from infant formula. It’s not pretty.
Also this week, I briefly consider how new supply chain due diligence laws in Europe might impact global food supply chains. Plus an update on global saffron fraud from the experts at the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program.
My favourite new food science discovery of the week was the fish-eye water temperature method. It’s so cool, I can’t believe I haven’t heard about it before.
As always, this issue ends with a round-up of food fraud incidents and horizon scanning news for paying subscribers at the end, plus an audio version, so you can catch up while on the go.
Please keep sharing this newsletter, and feel free to reply with feedback, I read every response.
Cheers!
Karen
P.S. Click the button below to share, I don’t use subscribers’ email addresses for anything else, and you don’t get added to any other list. Ever.
The Baby Formula Cronobacter Recall: What the FDA Found
Last month I wrote about the now-infamous Cronobacter baby formula recall and hypothesised that there were hygiene issues at the production facility.
Those suspicions were confirmed. Last week the US FDA shared what they saw when they inspected the production facility in February and March. It was their third inspection of that facility in two-and-a-half years.
The recall has now… [Read more]
News and Resources
No algorithm, just dedication… our news and resources are a carefully handcrafted selection from around the globe, expertly curated😎 and free from filler, fluff and promotional junk.
This week’s news includes… [Read more]
Saffron Fraud 101
The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program has published a new bulletin on saffron and saffron extracts. Their aim is to provide timely information on issues of adulteration, including the occurrence of adulteration, the potential consequences and the overall saffron market situation.
Here’s what you need to know. A link to the full report is provided (as always) below.
Saffron the spice is the dried stigma, part of the flower, of saffron the plant (Crocus sativus). You can see the red stigmas in the pictures.
Genuine saffron is [Read more]
Shrimp-Eye Tea Water (Just for Fun)
Oh I just love this!
Often in cooking, we need water to be at 100 degrees, which is fully boiling. (That’s 212 F for non-metric readers!) Except when we are steeping tea. Delicate green teas…
⭐⭐Paywalled Content Below This Line ⭐⭐
Below for paying subscribers: Food fraud news, news of emerging issues and food fraud incident reports
«Example»
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
An Unusual Milk Fraud Has Been Discovered
A fraudulent milk supply operation was uncovered after an inspector found a second hidden tank in a milk transport truck. The second tank allowed for the milk to be diluted with extra water, by remote control, after it passed quality inspections but prior to its unloading at the customer’s site - Italy 18/02/2022
Horizon Scanning (News of Emerging Risks)
Sustainability and Ethical Claims
Ethical and sustainable practices in global supply chains will be impacted by a new supply chain due diligence law in Germany. The law requires German companies of a certain size to investigate their supply chains and take adequate measures to prevent or mitigate human rights risks and environmental risks. This new law could motivate suppliers to become less transparent and more clandestine about unethical practices in order to protect their business with German companies. Child labour, which is important to some food-producing communities in developing countries, is one area where local and international rules may disagree – Global 08/08/2021 https://www.jonesday.com/en/insights/2021/08/the-impact-of-french-and-german-esg-due-diligence-laws-on-business
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is at heightened risk of food fraud due to supply constraints and very high prices. These have been caused by the Ukraine war. Ukraine is the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil. India is one market that will be affected, being a net importer of edible oils, with sunflower making about 10% of all oils consumed in India.
Food Fraud Incidents in Brief
Pickled turnips from Lebanon have been found to contain the unauthorised colourant rhodamine B by Germany - Europe 17/03/2022
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/538025
A large criminal network that was making counterfeit wines and spirits of brands Penfolds, Hennessy, Martell and GreatWall was uncovered after a consumer complained about the poor quality of a bottle of Penfolds they purchased. The brand owner investigated and found it was a ‘fake’ that had been purchased from an unlicensed retail outlet – China 27/03/2022
A factory making fake or adulterated honey containing sugar, molasses and syrup was discovered by authorities – Cameroon 29/03/2022
Illegal chicken raising and egg trading was uncovered and eggs were seized (16,720). The activities were in contravention of avian flu control measures and the eggs were untraceable – Italy 04/03/2022
https://www.antennasud.com/influenza-aviaria-sequestri-nas-galline-uova-lecce/
Sumac spice adulterated with the unauthorised and carcinogenic colourant Sudan IV has been reported by Germany 10/03/2022
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/536362
Tea powder alleged to be coloured with unauthorised substances including Persian blue, Bismarck brown or indigo colour has been reported in media - India 11/03/2022
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=935595
Paying subscribers can access a searchable list of food fraud incidents. Any incident we list here in the weekly email is also copied into the searchable list.
🍏 That’s all for this week,
I’m off to boil some shrimp for dinner. Hope I don’t get myself into hot water. Bye!
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Two to four interesting, short articles (food safety, food fraud, supply chains) straight to your inbox every Monday, plus;
Food fraud news and incident reports at the end of every issue. Plus;
Horizon scanning news (that’s changes to food supply chains that might increase food fraud);
A complete archive of paywalled resources, including training webinars and special supplements;
Searchable food fraud incident reports; and
Downloadable compilations of past issues.
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