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How Can ISO 22000 Help You Manage Food Fraud Risks

By May 31, 2025No Comments

How Can ISO 22000 Help You Manage Food Fraud Risks?

Food fraud is an intentional act of deception — like adulterating ingredients, mislabeling origin, or faking certifications — all for economic gain. It poses a serious threat to consumer health, brand reputation, and regulatory compliance.

Fortunately, the ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System provides a framework to help identify, assess, and control these risks effectively.

🧠 What Is Food Fraud?

Food fraud includes:

  • Adulteration – e.g., adding sugar syrup to honey

  • Counterfeiting – e.g., fake packaging or labels

  • Substitution – e.g., replacing high-value ingredients with cheaper ones

  • Misrepresentation – e.g., false halal, organic, or country-of-origin claims

  • Theft or diversion – e.g., stolen goods re-entering the supply chain

✅ How ISO 22000 Helps Manage Food Fraud Risks

ISO 22000 doesn’t directly use the term “food fraud,” but its structure supports fraud risk control through a risk-based approach and integration with Prerequisite Programs (PRPs) and HACCP principles.

🔍 Emphasizes Risk-Based Thinking

  • Encourages risk assessments beyond traditional food safety hazards

  • Allows companies to consider intentional risks, including food fraud

  • Aligns with ISO High-Level Structure (HLS) for all risk-based management systems

🛡️ Strengthens Supplier Control

  • Requires evaluation and approval of suppliers

  • Promotes sourcing from trusted, traceable suppliers

  • Encourages documented supply chain agreements and verification

📑 Integration with PRPs (e.g., ISO/TS 22002-1)

  • Includes controls for:

    • Raw material authenticity

    • Product labelling

    • Packaging integrity

    • Supplier traceability

  • Helps detect early signs of fraud or substitution

🔁 Continuous Monitoring & Verification

  • Involves regular checks on raw materials and process compliance

  • Encourages internal audits and supplier audits

  • Supports trend analysis for anomalies in ingredient quality or supply

🔄 Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle

  • Requires routine review and improvement of processes

  • Identifies changes in fraud vulnerabilities over time

  • Ensures systems stay up to date with market and regulatory changes

🧪 Common Food Fraud Controls Used with ISO 22000

While ISO 22000 does not prescribe specific tools, many organizations implement:

  • Vulnerability assessments

  • Testing and authentication (e.g., isotope analysis, DNA testing)

  • Supplier audits

  • Certificates of analysis (COAs)

  • Employee fraud awareness training

🚀 Benefits of Managing Food Fraud with ISO 22000

  • Protects your business from recalls and consumer backlash

  • Ensures regulatory and customer compliance

  • Enhances trust in your brand and product integrity

  • Reduces supply chain risk through proactive prevention

  • Supports alignment with GFSI-recognized schemes like FSSC 22000

🧩 Final Thoughts

Food fraud is becoming more complex — and more costly — for food businesses. ISO 22000 gives you a structured, preventive approach to managing these risks and protecting your operations from intentional deception.

Want expert help applying ISO 22000 to manage food fraud risks in your business?
Contact CAYS Scientific today — we help food manufacturers in Malaysia build robust, audit-ready food safety systems.

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