How Does FSSC 22000 Address Food Fraud and Vulnerability Assessments

How Does FSSC 22000 Address Food Fraud and Vulnerability Assessments?

In today’s global food supply chain, food fraud is a growing threat — from ingredient adulteration to counterfeit packaging. These activities not only harm consumers but can also destroy a food brand’s reputation.

That’s why FSSC 22000, a GFSI-recognized food safety system, requires companies to actively identify and control food fraud risks through vulnerability assessments and mitigation plans.

Let’s explore how FSSC 22000 tackles this issue.

🧠 What Is Food Fraud?

Food fraud refers to intentional deception for economic gain involving:

• Adulteration (e.g., adding melamine to milk)

• Substitution (e.g., replacing olive oil with cheaper oils)

• Mislabeling (e.g., fake halal or organic claims)

• Counterfeit products (e.g., fake packaging with your brand)

• Dilution (e.g., watering down fruit juice)

🔍 FSSC 22000 Requirements on Food Fraud

FSSC 22000 (based on ISO 22000 + sector-specific PRPs + additional requirements) addresses food fraud under its Additional Requirements section.

Here’s how:

✅ Food Fraud Vulnerability Assessment

• Conducted on all incoming materials and ingredients

• Focuses on likelihood and impact of fraud

• Factors assessed:

  • Economic value of the material

  • Historical fraud incidents

  • Complexity of the supply chain

  • Reliability of suppliers

✅ Documented Methodology Required

• Must have a defined approach or scoring system for vulnerability assessment

• Should include risk-ranking criteria

• Documented evidence must be available during audits

✅ Food Fraud Mitigation Plan

• Developed for high-risk materials or suppliers

• Includes preventive controls such as:

  • Approved supplier list

  • Product testing (e.g., authenticity, purity)

  • Tamper-evident packaging

  • Supplier declarations or certificates of analysis (COAs)

✅ Review and Update Frequency

• Food fraud assessment must be:

  • Reviewed annually

  • Updated whenever there are new suppliers, ingredient changes, or emerging fraud risks

✅ Training & Awareness

• FSSC 22000 requires staff awareness and training

• HACCP team and procurement staff must:

  • Understand food fraud risks

  • Know how to detect and report suspicious activity

🛠️ Tools and Techniques Often Used

• Food Fraud Database (e.g., USP, Decernis)

• Horizon scanning tools (e.g., RASFF alerts)

• Supplier verification programs

• Analytical testing (e.g., isotope analysis, DNA tests)

🚀 Benefits of Food Fraud Control Under FSSC 22000

• Protects your brand from fraud-related recalls

• Enhances consumer confidence in your products

• Improves supply chain transparency

• Helps meet buyer and regulatory requirements

• Keeps you audit-ready under GFSI schemes

🧩 Final Thoughts

Food fraud isn’t just a regulatory issue — it’s a strategic risk for food manufacturers.
With FSSC 22000, you get a structured approach to identifying vulnerabilities and minimizing threats, ensuring your ingredients, products, and suppliers meet integrity standards.

Need help setting up a Food Fraud Vulnerability Assessment?
Contact CAYS Scientific — we support food manufacturers in Malaysia with full FSSC 22000 implementation and training.