







































 
 

 

59 
© 2024 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

Agriculture and Food Sciences Research 
Vol. 11, No. 2, 59-64, 2024 

ISSN(E) 2411-6653/ ISSN(P) 2518-0193 
DOI: 10.20448/aesr.v11i2.6076 

© 2024 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 
 

 

 
 
 
Agri-food fraud in Africa vis-à-vis global health 

 
Wilfred Angie Abia1,2   

Taty Brandy Perkwang1,2   

Kaoke Matheiu Djoussou3   

 
 

( Corresponding Author) 
 
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, BP 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. 
Email: abiawilfred@gmail.com  
2Agri-Food Safety and One Health Authority, Yaounde, Cameroon. 
Email: tatybrandy13@gmail.com  
3University of Maroua, BP 814 Maroua, Cameroon. 
Email: kaomath3@gmail.com  

 
Abstract 

This paper reports on the extent of agri-food fraud in Africa, its occurrence across the Africa-EU 
trade borders, and associated implications for global health. It revealed that agri-food fraud in Africa 
and across Africa-EU trade borders may be a concern. Meanwhile, a few suspected cases have been 
reported, there may be more unchecked/unnoticed agri-food fraud practices ongoing in Africa 
requiring food trade border checks and rapid decisions making processes to reduce exposures. 
Exposure to adulterants can have significant implications for global health, as consumers 
unknowingly pay for, and consume, products that may be adulterated with substances which 
constitute a risk factor to one or more unchecked hazards against consumers' health protection. As 
global trade in agri-food products expands, the supply chain vulnerability to fraudulent activities 
becomes increasingly evident. This may be worse partly due to the inadequate food safety laws in 
African countries or poor enforcement. There is a need for food safety regulations in Africa that aim 
to ensure the safety and authenticity of food products, protect public health, and maintain consumer 
confidence. Finally, there is a need for rapid detection tools to make quick decisions on the field and 
agri-food traceability systems. 

 
Keywords: Africa-EU trade border, Agri-Food fraud, Authenticity, Consumers’ health, Traceability, Global health. 

 
Citation | Abia, W. A., Perkwang, T. B., & Djoussou, K. M. (2024). 
Agri-food fraud in Africa vis-à-vis global health. Agriculture and Food 
Sciences Research, 11(2), 59–64. 10.20448/aesr.v11i2.6076 

History:  
Received: 2 September 2024 
Revised: 14 October 2024 
Accepted: 22 October 2024 
Published: 6 November 2024 
Licensed: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 

Attribution 4.0 License  
Publisher:  Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support.    
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable. 
Transparency: The authors confirm that the manuscript is an honest, accurate, 
and transparent account of the study; that no vital features of the study have 
been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned have been 
explained. This study followed all ethical practices during writing. 
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing 
interests. 
Authors’ Contributions: Brought the idea and coined and designed the study 
and proofread, W.A.A.; carried out the literature review and performed data 
analysis, W.A.A. and T.B.P.; prepared the draft manuscript, T.B.P. and K.M.D.; 
read and approved the final manuscript, T.B.P., K.M.D. and W.A.A. All authors 
have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. 

 
Contents 
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 60 
2. Methodology ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 60 
3. Results and Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................... 60 
4. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 63 
References .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 63 
 

 

 

 

 

 

mailto:abiawilfred@gmail.com
mailto:tatybrandy13@gmail.com
mailto:kaomath3@gmail.com
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://www.doi.org/10.20448/aesr.v11i2.6076
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3796-8616
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2167-988X
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6001-6658


Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2024, 11(2): 59-64 

60 
© 2024 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Contribution of this paper to the literature 
The agri-food fraud situation in Africa and incidence across trade boarders – a scenario which may be 
largely unchecked requiring authenticity assessment and fraud detection studies in Africa. The potential 
bearing of agri-food fraud in Africa on consumers health globally as per the food supply chains.  

 
1. Introduction 

As the world population grows exponentially, nowadays, consumers can hardly ascertain the origin or 
authenticity of the several scarce and long-supply chain agricultural commodities or foods we pay for. The rate of 
agri-food fraud is alarming as many sellers, retailers, and individuals nationally and internationally have indulged in 
this deceiving practice for economic gain. Agri-food fraud poses a significant challenge to the integrity of the global 
food supply chain, with potentially severe consequences for human health. According to the European Commission 
[1] agri-food fraud is “a non-compliance concerning any suspected intentional action by some fraudsters to deceive 
purchasers and gain an undue advantage thereof, in violation of the rules referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation 
(EU) 2017/625” [2]. The repercussions of agri-food fraud extend far beyond economic losses to profound concerns 
for consumers’ health [3]. Agri-food fraud, encompassing a range of deceptive practices within the agricultural and 
food sectors, jeopardizes the safety and authenticity of food products [4]. The consequences of consuming 
adulterated or misrepresented food items can be severe, leading to adverse health effects and compromised nutritional 
value [5]. However, there is inadequate information on suspicious agricultural commodities or food products 
crossing the African trade borders. 

 

2. Methodology 
This scoping review paper has reviewed and summarized evidence from existing literature on agri-food fraud in 

Africa and across the Africa-European Union borders. The quality of each existing study of interest was not 
rigorously assessed. The search was based on agri-food fraud speculations involving any agri-food commodities, and 
cases of suspicions whether in Africa or abroad as long as the origin of the commodities could be confirmed to have 
originated from Africa. Additionally, this review probed into potential associated health implications that may arise 
should consumers consume such manipulated agri-food commodities. Keywords such as agri-food fraud, Africa, 
exposure, and health were used to search for relevant datasets on various search engines such as Google. The review 
was conducted using data obtained from online publications such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. In 
addition, a manual search for relevant literature was carried out using reference lists to include relevant studies, 
published in the English Language, and published between 2000 and 2024. When necessary, tables and figures were 
added to the narrative presentation of the results. 

 

3. Results and Discussion 
3.1. Agri-Food Fraud Suspicious Incidence Across the Africa-EU Trade Borders  

Of Agri-food fraud in Africa have revealed the magnitude of deceptive practices that span from the farm 
(production) to the market (processing and trade) making food susceptible to fraud at any stage’ [6]. For example, 
at the primary production stage, instances such as apiculture demonstrate how adulteration can occur. For example, 
a finished product of apiculture, honey, which is a highly valued product consumed worldwide as a sweetener and 
medicine has had a decreased rate of interest and trust because of its vulnerability to adulteration. Honey is easily 
manipulated by illegally mixing it with syrups or sugars to increase volume and profitability [7, 8]. This not only 
diminishes the quality and nutritional value of the honey but also poses health risks to consumers who may 
unknowingly ingest substandard products. As products move from the farm to the market, fraud extends to finished 
goods, thus the longer the food supply chain, the higher the risk of fraud occurring. An example is the mislabeling 
of olive oil, wherein lower-grade oil is labeled as premium "extra virgin" olive oil [9]. This misrepresentation not 
only deceives consumers but also undermines the reputation of genuine producers and affects trade relations [8]. 
Similarly, herbal medicine and spices are susceptible to substitution, with inferior or cheaper herbal medicine and 
spices being presented as premium variants [10, 11]. Moreover, counterfeiting of dairy products - where fake 
versions of branded items are sold [12] not only jeopardizes consumer health but tarnishes the reputation of  business 
brands. As the world population grows exponentially, the pressure to meet food demand may serve as a motivation 
for perpetrators of food fraud practices. Furthermore, mislabeling, a prevalent form of food fraud, has increased from 
33% in 2015 to 47% in 2019 globally’ [13]. As predicted by the Consumers Brand Association, food fraud may cost 
between 10 - 15 billion USD loss to the global food industry, hence affecting 10% of all world food products that are 
being commercially sold [14].  

There is little evidence of agri-food fraud across the African and European trade borders. This fraudulent activity 
encompasses a range of practices, including mislabeling, adulteration, counterfeiting, and misrepresentation of food 
products (Table 1 and 2). Some food categories particularly vulnerable to fraud in cross-border trades were identified 
(Table 1 and 2). Notably, dairy products, seafood, spices and herbs, olive oil, honey, and fresh produce emerged as 
high-risk categories, with documented fraud incidents. Generally, several common agricultural commodities or foods 
are vulnerable to fraud, each with a spectrum of potentially fraudulent practices (Table 1). Additionally, some 
instances of manipulated agri-food products have been detected in some African markets/countries (Table 2), some 
of which might have been destined to cross the trade borders between Africa and Europe. These incidents involve 
mislabeling seafood species, adulteration of olive oil with lower-grade oils, and the presence of contaminants in spices 
and herbs.



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2024, 11(2): 59-64 

61 
© 2024 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

 
Table 1. Incidence of agri-food fraud in farm and market settings in Africa. 

Stage Fraudulent Practices Total Percentage 
(%) 

Examples Citations 

Farm Adulteration in apiculture 111 2.2 Mixing honey with syrups or sugars Fakhlaei, et al. [7]; Handford, et al. [12] and Marvin, et al. [15] 
Production site      
 

Adulteration of beer and alcoholic 
beverages 

nd nd Addition of illegal substances like strychnine Shears [16]  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Market 

Adulteration of milk and milk product 526 10.5 Addition of urea, formalin, detergents, 
ammonium sulphate, boric acid, caustic soda, 
benzoic acid, salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, 
sugars and melamine in milk 

Marvin, et al. [15] and Azad and Ahmed [17]  

Mislabeling of olive oil    Labeling lower-grade oil as extra virgin olive oil Girelli, et al. [9] 
Substitution of spices and herbal 
Medicine 

99 2.0 Substituting cheaper spices and herbs for 
premium ones 

 

Counterfeit dairy products (poultry meat 
and poultry product) 

384 7.6 Selling fake versions of branded dairy products 
 

Osman, et al. [11]; Kamboj [10];   Handford, et al. [12] and 
Marvin, et al. [15] 

Red palm oil   Addition of Sudan dye IV (a carcinogenic 
compound / azo dye) 

 

Eggs and egg products 63 1.6 Contains harmful substances such as benzoic acid, 
sodium alginate 

Handford, et al. [12] and Marvin, et al. [15]  

 
 

Table 2. Reported Agri-food fraud incidents in some African countries and speculated health implications. 

Country, Sub-African region  Food type Agri-food fraud practice  Potential health implications Citations  
Cameroon, Central Africa Red palm oil -Use of azo coloring dye (Sudan dye IV) Sudan dye IV is well known as a carcinogen Toukap and Abia [18] 

Nigeria, West Africa Fat and oil, Alcoholic and Non-
alcoholic drinks, Honey, sugar, 
Mılk 

Honey being diluted with syrup and milk 
counterfeited with no animal protein  

Loss of consumers' trust in the product. Opia [19] and Nagel [20]  

Ghana, West Africa Red palm oil  Sudan dye IV is being mixed in palm oil Sudan dye iv is a carcinogen. It has the 
potential to cause cancer 

 

Kenya, East Africa Vegetable oil  Vegetable oil made from recycled oil which 
is harmful to humans 

Deceive consumers and give less confidence to 
the brand. 

Nagel [20]  

Egypt, North Africa Wheat  Illegal addition of wrong or bad amount of 
wheat 

Deceive consumers of the choices they want Mabrouk, et al. [21] 

Morocco  Olive oil  Olive oil counterfeiting by adulteration 
with cheaper oils 

 Ellyat [22]  

Nigeria and Ethiopia Honey  Substandard honey diluted with sugar 
syrup 

 Orina [23]  

African nations (such as Ghana, Morocco, 
Senegal, The Gambia, Egypt, Kenya, Togo, 
Madagascar, Uganda) 

Shrimps, sole (fish product), 
vegetables (e.g. spinach leaves) 
and fruits (e.g. oranges), etc 

Shrimps to which sulphites (E 220 – E 
228) were added as additives, and non-
compliance in cases of vegetables and 
fruits e.g. being tainted with pesticide 
residues  

 European Commission (EC) [24] 

 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2024, 11(2): 59-64 

62 
© 2024 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Recently, according to the European Commission’s first (January 2024) monthly agri-food fraud suspicions 
report on the EU Agri-Food Fraud Suspicions [24] majority of suspicions were at border control followed by market 
control. Several suspicious commodities were from Africa. For example, shrimps from Senegal were suspected to be 
tampered with using sulphites (E 220 – E 228) (471 mg/Kg) as notified by Spain and classified as Additives not 
compliant with EU Maximum limits (MLs). Likewise, sole (fish product) from Gambia was manipulated using 
Cynoglossus senegalensis instead of Synaptura spp as notified by Italy and classified as Adulteration (ingredient 
substitution) [24]. Furthermore, a series of non-compliances (implicit claim violations) classified as Residues of 
pesticides not compliant with EU Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) mainly involving fruits and vegetables 
originating from Africa specifically, Egypt (vine leaves, carrots, mandarins, oranges, and strawberries), Kenya 
(mangetout peas and peppers), Ghana (pineapples), Madagascar (cowpeas), Togo (spinach leaves), and or Uganda 
(peppers) were suspected in Europe as notified by Belgium, Netherlands, Slovenia, Romania, Italy or Germany [24]. 
Meanwhile, there may be more unchecked and unnoticed food fraud situations, these further emphasize the need for 
food trade border checks for rapid decisions toward reducing exposures and protecting” consumers’ health [25]. 
Therefore, “one fraud anywhere may equate to several consumers in one world – the One Fraud to Consumers in 
One World concept – Abia 2024”. This further complements the relevance of the potential agri-food fraud across 
Africa-EU trade borders and calls for action.  

The trade relationship between Africa and the European Union (EU) is a pivotal nexus in the global food supply 
chain, facilitating the exchange of agricultural and food products. This trade corridor does not only support economic 
growth but also presents opportunities for cross-cultural cooperation and development. Agriculture commodities or 
foods are traded across the Africa-EU trade borders from African countries to the European markets or from the 
European countries to the African nations, thus constituting an import-export traffic situation. African countries 
export a diverse range of products to the EU, including fruits, vegetables, coffee, cocoa, nuts, and various processed 
foods while European countries also export products to Africa such as machinery, pharmaceuticals, and industrial 
goods [26, 27]. However, within this trade relationship, vulnerabilities to agri-food fraud emerge, as products 
traverse complex supply chains, diverse regulatory frameworks, and varying economic conditions. 

Agri-food fraud, a multifaceted issue characterized by deceptive practices in the food supply chain, has emerged 
as a critical challenge in the global trade of agricultural commodities and food products [28]. The rate of agri-food 
fraud has become an increasing problem globally in the food industry and for consumers with sellers seeking to 
capitalize on financial gains [29].  In this context, the trade relationships between Africa and the European Union 
(Africa-EU) have garnered attention as a hotspot for agri-food fraud. These trade borders form a critical juncture in 
the global food trade, where products navigate complex supply chains, regulatory variations, and socio-economic 
disparities. This dynamic trade relationship presents opportunities and challenges, making it an important focal point 
for understanding the intricacies of agri-food fraud and its implications. 

Given that agricultural commodities and food products are traded commonly across the Africa-EU trade borders, 
certain food categories are particularly susceptible to fraudulent activities in this trade relationship. This may partly 
be due to factors such as high demand, diverse supply sources, and challenges in traceability [13]. For instance, in 
the export of fruits and vegetables, mislabeling or substitution can occur, leading to the misrepresentation of origin 
or variety. Commodities like coffee and cocoa, where quality and origin play a crucial role, may also face adulteration 
or false labeling, affecting the authenticity and value of the products [30]. Additionally, processed foods, such as 
olive oil and spices, may be susceptible to mislabeling, substitution, or dilution, impacting both consumer health and 
the reputation of producers.  

 

3.2. Agri-Food Fraud and Global Health  
Agri-food fraud is a potential threat to consumers' health, wherever globally a consumer consumes manipulated 

agri-food, jeopardizing global health [25]. Global health mainly focuses on worldwide health improvement 
(including mental health), reduction of disparities, and protection against global threats that disregard national 
borders, including the most common causes of human death and years of life lost from a worldwide perspective [31]. 
Exposure to agri-food fraud can have significant implications for global health, as consumers unknowingly pay for, 
and consume products that may be illegally adulterated with substances (or that are being mislabeled) which 
constitute a risk factor to one or more unchecked hazards against consumers' health protection [8, 25]. These 
fraudulent practices compromise the integrity of the food supply chain and can lead to adverse health effects. For 
instance, adulterating foods with inferior ingredients or contaminants exposes consumers to potential allergens, 
toxins, or harmful chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions, foodborne illnesses, or long-term health issues [32]. 
Mislabeling or substitution may lead to inadequate nutrient intake, impacting overall health and exacerbating 
nutritional deficiencies. Moreover, introducing fraudulent products into the market erodes consumer trust, hindering 
their ability to make informed dietary choices.  

Global health is intricately linked to food authenticity and safety. Exposure to   inauthentic (presumable unsafe) 
food otherwise known as manipulated food is a threat to public health, as consumers may unknowingly consume sub-
standard or adulterated products, exposing themselves to contaminants [2, 8] allergens, and nutritional deficiencies 
[1, 33]. Furthermore, the health consequences of agri-food fraud can lead to increased healthcare costs, decreased 
productivity, and economic losses for both consumers and governments since it increases health risks adding to the 
national burden [34]. This can affect economic development and exacerbate existing health disparities. Therefore, 
comprehending the extent of agri-food fraud and its health implications within the context of African-European trade 
becomes imperative for safeguarding public health and ensuring the integrity of the food supply chain.                                                           

To combat the growing threat of agri-food fraud and food safety by extension, the African national regulatory 
agencies e.g. Nigeria (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC), South African 
(South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, SAHPRA), Ethiopia (Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority, 
EFDA), and Cameroon (Cameroon Food Safety Framework Law) may need to make more provisions for food 
compliance and inspections. These regulations aim to ensure the safety and authenticity of food products, protect 
public health, and maintain consumer confidence. As global trade in agriculture commodities and food products 
expands, the supply chain vulnerability to fraudulent activities becomes increasingly evident. This may be worse 
partly due to the inadequate food safety laws in African countries or poor enforcement. Finally, there is a need for 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2024, 11(2): 59-64 

63 
© 2024 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

rapid detection tools to make quick decisions on the field, and a need for supply chain traceability systems [25]. This 
article has provided relevant information on the extent of food fraud practice across the Africa-European trade border 
and highlighted a potential association with consumers' health in different geographic locations around the globe.  

 

4. Conclusion 
Agri-food fraud is a growing syndrome in Africa which may unfortunately largely be unchecked. Agri-food fraud 

may be common across the Africa-EU borders, with speculated unprecedented implications on consumer health 
globally. This may partly be due to the absence or inadequate enforcement of food safety-related legislation in some 
African countries. When speculating that the variety and severity of sicknesses in Africa may be associated with 
fraud, agri-food fraud in Africa may require more attention. The need for efficient and effective systems for agri-food 
fraud prevention, vulnerability assessment, and authorities to track suspicious foods in the market or trade borders 
and trace them back to their origin/producers cannot be emphasized. There is a need for the producers/industries to 
devise strategies of not only authenticating their products but also being capable of distinguishing their products in 
the market from fake copies as a means of protecting their brands and maintaining consumers' trust. Safeguarding 
the genuineness and safety of agri-food commodities or products strengthens consumers’ health protection and global 
trade connections. Overall, the road ahead requires unwavering commitment, constant vigilance, and a united effort 
to ensure that the food consumed worldwide is safe and wholesome.   

 

References 
[1] European Commission, "Agri food fraud: What does it mean?," Retrieved: https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/eu-agri-food-fraud-

network/what-does-it-mean_en. [Accessed 12/08/2023], 2019. 
[2] European Commission (EC), "Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European parliament and of the council of 15 March 2017," 

Retrieved: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017R0625,document32017R0625.OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion. [Accessed 
05/04/2024], 2017. 

[3] L. Niu, M. Chen, X. Chen, L. Wu, and F. S. Tsai, "Enterprise food fraud in China: Key factors identification from social co-governance 
perspective," Front Public Health, vol. 9, pp. 1-14, 2021.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.752112 

[4] M. E. Dasenaki and N. S. Thomaidis, "Quality and authenticity control of fruit juices-a review," Molecules, vol. 24, no. 6, p. 1014, 
2019.  https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24061014 

[5] A. Ogunlade and M. Adeleke, Food, technology and culture in Africa (African Books Collective). Reamsworth Publishing. 
https://muse.jhu.edu/book/98691, 2021. 

[6] B. Winkler et al., "Fighting fraudulent and deceptive practices in the agri-food chain," Retrieved: 
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC131525/JRC131525_01.pdf. [Accessed 2023. 

[7] R. Fakhlaei et al., "The toxic impact of honey adulteration: A review," Foods, vol. 9, no. 11, p. 1538, 2020.  
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9111538 

[8] A. W. A. Abia, "Food fraud detection: The role of spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics," Journal of Nutrition and Diet Management, 
vol. 1, pp. 1–7, 2023.  https://doi.org/10.59462/jndm.1.1.103 

[9] C. R. Girelli, L. Del Coco, and F. P. Fanizzi, "Tunisian extra virgin olive oil traceability in the EEC market: Tunisian/Italian 
(Coratina) EVOOs blend as a case study," Sustainability, vol. 9, no. 8, p. 1471, 2017.  https://doi.org/10.3390/su9081471 

[10] A. Kamboj, "Analytical evaluation of herbal drugs drug discovery research in pharmacognosy," Retrieved: 
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hbqZDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA23&dq=Similarly,+spices+are+susceptible+t
o+substitution,+with+inferior+or+cheaper+spices+being+presented+as+premium+variants&ots=oUqJwObdZP&sig=FBzmQT
Tn_ABBQ-tJWvzJihP1gIg. [Accessed 2012. 

[11] A. G. Osman, V. Raman, S. Haider, Z. Ali, A. G. Chittiboyina, and I. A. Khan, "Overview of analytical tools for the identification of 
adulterants in commonly traded herbs and spices," Journal of AOAC International, vol. 102, no. 2, pp. 376-385, 2019.  
https://doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.18-0389 

[12] C. E. Handford, K. Campbell, and C. T. Elliott, "Impacts of milk fraud on food safety and nutrition with special emphasis on 
developing countries," Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 130-142, 2016.  
https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12181 

[13] P. Visciano and M. Schirone, "Food frauds: Global incidents and misleading situations," Trends in Food Science & Technology, vol. 114, 
pp. 424-442, 2021.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.010 

[14] I. O. Owolabi and J. A. Olayinka, "Incidence of fraud and adulterations in ASEAN food/feed exports: A 20-year analysis of RASFF’s 
notifications," Plos One, vol. 16, no. 11, p. e0259298, 2021.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259298 

[15] H. J. Marvin et al., "Global media as an early warning tool for food fraud; an assessment of MedISys-FF," Food Control, vol. 137, p. 
108961, 2022.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.108961 

[16] P. Shears, "Food fraud–a current issue but an old problem," British Food Journal, vol. 112, no. 2, pp. 198-213, 2010.  
https://doi.org/10.1108/00070701011018879 

[17] T. Azad and S. Ahmed, "Common milk adulteration and their detection techniques," International Journal of Food Contamination, vol. 
3, pp. 1-9, 2016.  

[18] N. H. Toukap and W. A. Abia, "Red palm oil authenticity and fraud detection awareness, perceptions, and knowledge of producers, 
sellers and consumers in Cameroon," International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management, vol. 6, pp. 670–675, 2024.  

[19] J. E. Opia, "Food fraud in Nigeria: Challenges, risks and solutions," Theses. https://doi.org/10.21427/nm91-rk58, 2020.  
[20] V. Nagel, "Food or foe – The rise of counterfeit food across Africa Insights into the law in South Africa | welcome to go legal," 

Retrieved: https://www.golegal.co.za/counterfeit-food-africa/. [Accessed 2020. 
[21] S. Mabrouk, A. Abdelmonsef, and A. Toman, "Smart grain storage monitor and control," American Scientific Research Journal for 

Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 156-162, 2017.  
[22] H. Ellyat, "Italy’s slippery ‘extra virgin’ olive oil scandal," Retrieved: https://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/13/italys-slippery-extra-

virgin-olive-oil-scandal.html. [Accessed 2015. 
[23] I. N. Orina, "Quality and safety characteristics of honey produced in different regions of Kenya ", Thesis, 2014.  
[24] European Commission (EC), "January 2024 report on EU agri-food fraud suspicions," Retrieved: 

https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/70e6460b-0a7c-4200-9757-77839407d903_en?filename=ff_ffn_monthly-
report_202401.pdf.  

[25] W. A. Abia and T. B. Perkwang, "Agri-food fraud in a geographic area in relation to global health: A probe into the perceptions, 
knowledge, attitudes, practices, and concerns of cameroonian," Journal of Nutrition and Diet Management, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 1-11, 2024.  
https://doi.org/10.59462/JHAN.2.2.113  

[26] B. Akwei, "The dilemma of the process-oriented and spillover effects of regional economic integration of West Africa: ECOWAS 
intra-regional trade and trade with key," South Asian Research Journal of Business and Management, vol. 23, pp. 49-58, 2020.  

[27] A. Malik et al., "Global environmental and social spillover effects of EU's food trade," Global Sustainability, vol. 6, p. e6, 2023.  
https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2023.4 

[28] N. Friedman and J. Ormiston, "Blockchain as a sustainability-oriented innovation?: Opportunities for and resistance to Blockchain 
technology as a driver of sustainability in global food supply chains," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 175, p. 121403, 
2022.  

https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/eu-agri-food-fraud-network/what-does-it-mean_en
https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/eu-agri-food-fraud-network/what-does-it-mean_en
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017R0625,document32017R0625.OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017R0625,document32017R0625.OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.752112
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24061014
https://muse.jhu.edu/book/98691
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC131525/JRC131525_01.pdf
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9111538
https://doi.org/10.59462/jndm.1.1.103
https://doi.org/10.3390/su9081471
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hbqZDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA23&dq=Similarly,+spices+are+susceptible+to+substitution,+with+inferior+or+cheaper+spices+being+presented+as+premium+variants&ots=oUqJwObdZP&sig=FBzmQTTn_ABBQ-tJWvzJihP1gIg
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hbqZDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA23&dq=Similarly,+spices+are+susceptible+to+substitution,+with+inferior+or+cheaper+spices+being+presented+as+premium+variants&ots=oUqJwObdZP&sig=FBzmQTTn_ABBQ-tJWvzJihP1gIg
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hbqZDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA23&dq=Similarly,+spices+are+susceptible+to+substitution,+with+inferior+or+cheaper+spices+being+presented+as+premium+variants&ots=oUqJwObdZP&sig=FBzmQTTn_ABBQ-tJWvzJihP1gIg
https://doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.18-0389
https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12181
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.010
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259298
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.108961
https://doi.org/10.1108/00070701011018879
https://doi.org/10.21427/nm91-rk58
https://www.golegal.co.za/counterfeit-food-africa/
https://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/13/italys-slippery-extra-virgin-olive-oil-scandal.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/13/italys-slippery-extra-virgin-olive-oil-scandal.html
https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/70e6460b-0a7c-4200-9757-77839407d903_en?filename=ff_ffn_monthly-report_202401.pdf
https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/70e6460b-0a7c-4200-9757-77839407d903_en?filename=ff_ffn_monthly-report_202401.pdf
https://doi.org/10.59462/JHAN.2.2.113
https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2023.4


Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2024, 11(2): 59-64 

64 
© 2024 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

[29] Thermo Fisher Scientific, "Food adulteration analysis information," Retrieved: 
https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/food-beverage/food-beverage-learning-center/food-analytical-testing-
information/food-adulteration-analysis-information.html. [Accessed 2023. 

[30] S. Kamiloglu, "Authenticity and traceability in beverages," Food Chemistry, vol. 277, pp. 12-24, 2019. [Online]. Available: 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.10.091 

[31] S. E. Fischer et al., "Is it about the ‘where’or the ‘how’? Comment on defining global health as public health somewhere else," BMJ 
Global Health, vol. 5, no. 5, p. e002567, 2020.  https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002172 

[32] M. Momtaz, S. Y. Bubli, and M. S. Khan, "Mechanisms and health aspects of food adulteration: A comprehensive review," Foods, vol. 
12, no. 1, p. 199, 2023.  https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12010199 

[33] J. M. Ryan, Food fraud. Cambridge, USA: Academic Press, 2015. 
[34] A. Cox, A. Wohlschlegel, L. Jack, and E. Smart, "The cost of food crime, Food Standard Agency (Research Project code: FS 301065), 

2020," Retrieved: https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/the-cost-of-food-crime.pdf. [Accessed 2020. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Asian Online Journal Publishing Group is not responsible or answerable for any loss, damage or liability, etc. caused in relation to/arising out of the use of the content. 
Any queries should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. 

 

https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/food-beverage/food-beverage-learning-center/food-analytical-testing-information/food-adulteration-analysis-information.html
https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/food-beverage/food-beverage-learning-center/food-analytical-testing-information/food-adulteration-analysis-information.html
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.10.091
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002172
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12010199
https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/the-cost-of-food-crime.pdf

